Car Barn Beamish are pleased to offer this very special and unique Proteus XJ13 for sale. Chassis number P90003 was built between 1991 and 1993 and remained with its original owner’s family for 20 years. One of only seven Jaguar XJ13 recreations built by Proteus, this car is now available at the Car Barn ready to be enjoyed this summer.
During the build of this XJ13 great attention to detail was given to all aspects of the car. Included in this car’s extensive history files are copies of correspondence between the first owner and ZF in Germany, ensuring it had the correct transaxle gearbox for instance.
At the heart of the car is a 6.1 litre Jaguar V12, prepared by Jaguar engine specialist Dave Butcher, with individual throttles and trumpets per cylinder, electronic fuel injection and ignition system, dry sump lubrication with rear oil cooler and an alloy oil tank. Over the years the engine has been further fettled and refined, and it now produces around 380bhp. With a car that weighs around 1000kgs this provides superb performance. The engine really is the beating heart of this car, and the noise is incredible.
The car has two huge history folders containing every bill and receipt dating back to its build, and it has quite the back story. To keep the car looking and feeling as authentic as possible, cast alloy wheels were produced using the original XJ13 wheel moulds. The body was produced with louvred bonnet, side and boot panels, coupled with a polished aluminium cockpit, period dials, plexiglass windows, Moto-Lita steering wheel and period lighting which gives the car a highly accurate finish. Whilst the car has never been raced and has only covered just over 3000 miles from new, it is presented with a beautiful patina which defies the true age of the car.
In 1997 the car was taken to renowned Jaguar specialist Don Law who described it as ‘being beautifully assembled and a credit to you. The detail is superb’. They went into the finer detail with the car, looking at not only some smaller issues with the running of the vehicle but also making sure the suspension and well set up. The team at Don Law described the finely tuned XJ13 as having ‘mild understeer which can now be transferred to controllable oversteer with introduction of throttle’. There is also reference to the owner requesting Don Law not to cut any corners in making this one of the best examples out there. Latterly in its life Racing Green Cars also cast their specialist eyes over the vehicle.
It wasn’t until 2013 when the car finally left the family who built it, and it has been recently been the star of a private collection abroad where the car had full TUV approval. It’s is now back in the UK and the Car Barn have carried out some light re-commissioning work to ensure it is fighting fit and ready to enjoy this summer.
