Car Moon

A one-off 1960s prototype Jaguar Le Mans race car worth an estimated £14 million (about $27 million or €18 million) will take part at the Bradford Classic this Saturday on July 19, 2008. The XJ13 that is owned by Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT) and kept in its museum in Coventry is very rarely seen - let alone run- and it is believed that this is the first time it has ever run through a British City.

The XJ13 prototype that features a mid-mounted V12 engine will be accompanied at the Bradford Classic by its equally famous test driver, Norman Dewis. Dewis was the man behind the wheel when the XJ13 prototype crashed on the Mira test track in 1971 at 140 mph (225 km/h) after earlier breaking the lap record at 161 (259 km/h). Fortunately, Dewis was escaped the accident unharmed. Several years later, the racing car was rebuilt by Jaguar to a specification similar to the original, using the body jigs made for its original construction. -Continued