21 great V12 classic cars

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19. Jaguar XJ220©JLR

Jaguar’s 1998 XJ220 concept car promised four-wheel drive, a 6.2-litre dohc version of the TWR-developed V12 that had taken the XJR-9 to Le Mans glory earlier that year, and, of course, a 220mph top speed.
The production version Jaguar delivered four years later made do with a twin-turbocharged V6 and rear-wheel drive, though its verified 217mph maximum wasn’t far off.

 

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20. Rolls-Royce Phantom III©James Mann/Classic & Sports Car

You might think that Rolls-Royce and V12 engines were made for each other, but classic Rollers were only available with V12 power between 1936 and 1939.
The gargantuan Phantom III’s equally massive 7.3-litre pushrod V8 replaced the earlier Phantom II’s straight-six, and helped baddie Auric Goldfinger drag his gold bullion up Switzerland’s Furka Pass in the 1964 Bond film that bore his name.

 

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21. Jaguar XJR-15©Bonhams

While the production XJ220 failed to deliver on the concept’s V12 promise, another even wilder Jaguar supercar did come up with the goods.
The XJR-15 was based around the chassis of the Le Mans-winning XJR-9 clothed in bodywork by Peter Stevens, and powered by a 6.0-litre V12 developing 450bhp.
Only 53 were built by Jaguar Sport between 1990 and 1992.