Meet the oldest possible XJ-S in the world (right). XJ27/1 was built in 1972 before the XJ-S name was even thought of.
It is the car in which Mark Trenoweth was award by Jaguar Cars, it’s Jaguar International Driver of the Year, and the car which gained FIA homologation for the XJ-S in 1979. Without that there would have been no TWR racing XJ-Ss.
It’s builder, John McCormack, also fitted the first 6.0 Jaguar V12 engine ever made! Mark has it, and is rebuilding the powerplant to refit into his original XJ-S racer. That favourite car is his next restoration project – that is underway.
Also – this is the first time the two McCormack designed XJ-Ss have been photographed together for a feature, according to Mark who phoned today!
On the right is Mark’s second 6.0 litre V12 XJ-S, also built by McCormack (three times Australian Gold Star champion and raced in the US) but created for Mark this time.
Mac was the lead driver for the legendary Elfin cars, and it’s chief engineer too!
Mark said it is a much better and faster car, and its restoration is a work of art thanks to Mark’s dragster-devotee engineer Scott Bettes.
Mark is a massive admirer of John McCormack, and spent years tracking down the pieces of his Valiant Charger GT racer, including its Repco Brabham F1 engine, and restored it too!!!
It’s a story for the ages and a highlight of Jaguar Magazine #209.
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