In 2017, Shaun stumbled upon the 1987 Jaguar XJ12 that would become his fifth and most ambitious XJ project. Negotiations for the purchase of the vehicle reached a point where they were haggling over a mere $60. The frustrated seller refused to deal with Shaun any longer, prompting him to enlist the help of a friend to secure the purchase.
Shaun initially planned to restore the car within a year but soon discovered the challenges ahead. The complex twin-fuel tank system of the Jaguar proved to be an early obstacle. Undeterred, he swapped out the Jaguar’s V12 engine for a newer BMW M60B30 V8 and introduced air suspension. The rear differential was replaced with one from an Aston Martin DB7, which gave it a stronger braking setup, too, replacing the original in-board discs with a conventional outboard setup.
Custom bumpers were meticulously crafted to achieve a sleeker look, and the car was adorned with a striking OEM-spec Carpathian Grey paint finish. Drawing inspiration from YouTube tutorials, Shaun took on the task of refurbishing the interior with leather upholstery.
