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n  This Jaguar's tale might also be titled "The XJS-Junior -- the Lost Toy ... or, the Rare Collectible.


 
What is an XJ-S Junior?
 
In about 1989, Jaguar Cars decided to licence Unibody and other bespoke UK companies to make a Junior 1/2 scale model of the then venerable XJ-S to coinicide with the release of the convertible model in 1989.  No records of the build, etc. have been found yet -- but for fleating references.

What are Juniors?
     
Juniors are not pedal cars.  Juniors areusually powered by gas or electircity.  Juniors have been popular since the 1950s as limited editions made for carmakers, such as the Edsel Junior. They were generally promotional gifts rather than purchasible items.  Other examples are the Thunderbird, Corvette and  others.

                                                       http://powercarcompany.com                           http://www.jrcentral.com

When was the XJ-S Junior made?
 
It was expensive. Manufacturer's suggested retail price was 3,950 pounds and it is annecdotally reported that there was at least one at the exclusive Harrods for Christimas, in 1989 or 1990.  Made around 1989 to 1990, the XJ-S Junior had an uncertain production run estimated at 14-20 were actually built.  Research is on-going.  

  Ironically, JDHT does not have one and does not (apparently) attribute much importance to it as it was not a road vehicle.

The One Example:   From Worcestershire to Canada

This example is located in Ontario, Canada and originally from UK. The owner knows of only two documented XJS-Jr vehicles.

     n One is the press car (RHD - signal red, black hides). See brochure and press photos on this web page. Whereabouts unknown.

     n Second is the vehicle held by this enthusiast (RHD - British racing green, doeskin hides).

     n No LHD examples found yet.

What are the Specs?

The build quality is high. The Specs are: 24-Volt electric motor. Fibreglass body on steel rail frame, unlike the full-scale model which has a unibody/monocoque-type body.  The motor is in the rear, unlike the front-engined full-scale XJS. It has full-turning steering,  parking brake, headlights, brakelights, reverse gear, Connelly leather seats and steering wheel, radio,burled walnut wood trim, "gas" pedal, max speed about 12mph / 22kmph.  Reverse gear is half speed.

How can I get one?

The owner knows of one held privately. For the connoisseur, Violetta of France continues the Jaguar Junior tradition.  Violetta attends events such as Le Mans and Brooklands with their examples.


   

Here are some comments on the XJ-S Junior, from Anders Clausager, Chief Archivist at the Jaguar-Daimler Heritage Trust.
	From: "Clausager, Anders \(A.\)" Subject: MODEL JAG - XJS "The XJ-S Junior was not a Jaguar product but was commissioned from an outside supplier, J P Products at Milton  Keynes, by Unipart (the company which operates Jaguar's spares and accessory programme) in conjunction with the Jaguar Collection (a former subsidiary of Jaguar specialising in merchandising and licensing), and was briefly marketed under the auspices of Jaguar Cars Limited. We believe that possibly only 14 and not more than 20 were made in 1990. We do not know whether the company J P Products still exists.  We do not  know whether the XJ-S Junior cars were individually numbered, and if so, whether the manufacturer kept records of the cars by these numbers.  We can however confirm that no such records were ever deposited with the JDHT. .... " Anders Ditlev Clausager Chief Archivist - Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Jaguar Cars, B/1/002, Browns Lane, Coventry CV5 9DR, England