Possibly one of the lowest volume 'limited edition' vehicles from a specialist manufacturer.

In 1979 the Sales and Marketing department of Leyland Australia decided to produce  a unique image vehicle in limited numbers to appeal to buyers in the luxury market. This was to be an easily identifiable customised vehicle. The name "Cannonball" was used,  and adopted from the illegal across America race. The intention was that the modifications had to be attractive and unique without changing the integrity of the Jaguar build and causing problems with Australian Design Rule compliance.

In reality, it was done to move some old stock vehicles in unpopular colour combinations.

Vehicles were modified by Trick Pick Ups Manufacturing of Marigold Street, Revesby in NSW, and modified as follows;

1. 1. Standard road wheels replaced with "Compomotive" sports alloy wheels.

2. 2. Steering wheel replaced with a "Momo" sports style wheel.

3. 3. "Cibie" front fog lamps fitted.

4. 4. A "Prince" computer fitted to the dash.

5. 5. Front and rear seat facings reupholstered with cropped merino wool.

6. 6. Paintwork restyled in two tone for some colour schemes.

7. 7. Black paint applied to chrome and stainless steel bright-work.

In all a total of only 11 vehicles were modified in this way, with all but the first prototype build vehicle having a dash plaque identifying vehicles 1 to 10, yet #11 has turned up.

The first prototype was repainted in Unipart racing colours (red white and blue) as a support vehicle to the lightweight Jaguar XJS sports sedan raced by John McCormack at that time. This same vehicle was later acquired by John Goss and modified for racing and is the Jaguar that made Australian racing history by stopping the Great Race at Bathurst in 1984 with a problem on the grid. It is still owned by John Goss and is now a perfect replica of the 1985 Bathurst winning car.

Vehicles listed by VIN, engine number, body colour, trim colour, State and date of sale as follows;

JNAEY3AC100076 - 8S 12026 LB - Signal Red - Biscuit - NSW - 8/'79

#11 - JNAEY3AC100280 - 8S 12131 LA - Juniper - Biscuit - SA - 3/'80

JNAEY3AC100374 - 8S 12204 LB - Bronze - Cinnamon - Qld - 6/'80

JNAEY3AC100648 - 8S 12234 LB - Signal Red - Biscuit - Qld - 12/'79

JNAEY3AC100684 - 8S 12300 LB - Signal Red - Black - Vic - 7/'80

JNAEY3AC100872 - 8S 12632 LA - Yellow - Cinnamon - NSW - 12/'79

JNAEY3AC100885 - 8S 12741 LA - Yellow - Black - WA - 4/'80

JNAEY3AC100891 - 8S 12742 LA - Signal Red - Black - Vic - 3/'80

JNAEY3AC100930 - 8S 12119 LA - Brown - Biscuit - SA - 6/'80

JNAEY3AC100999 - 8S 12837 LA - Signal Red - Biscuit - SA - 11/'79

JNAEY3AC101016 - 8S 12824 LA - Signal Red - Black - NSW - 3/'80

Jaguar XJS Coupe

The basis for the

Cannonball