To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Abu Dhabi event, 30
November 2019.
Estimate:
$400,000 - $500,000
- Offered from nearly 20 years of single ownership
- Recent six-year service by XJ220 specialist Don Law Racing
- Hugely original with less than 7,800 km from new
- One of only 282 produced
Tom Walkinshaw's desire to reinvigorate Jaguar's racing efforts led
to him assemble a group of Jaguar engineers to create a car that
would rekindle the magic the automaker experienced at Le Mans in
the 1950s, when the company won the race an impressive five times.
The first concept car was built with a V-12 and four-wheel drive,
putting it in contention for the title of the fastest production
car ever built.
When the XJ220 debuted in concept-car form at the British
International Motor Show in October of 1988, it was just a few
hours old. Jaguar's team finished putting the car together just
eight hours before its debut. The car was a hit on the stand at the
National Exhibition Centre�so much so that the automaker reportedly
received several blank checks.
However, Jaguar was not ready to build the outlandish XJ220�or,
rather, the automaker was not in a financial position to do so.
After a feasibility study suggested that the XJ220 could be a
moneymaker, Jaguar and Tom Walkinshaw Racing used their joint
venture to form Project XJ220 Ltd. to complete development of what
was touted as a 220 mph sports car.
The production car that launched in 1991 did not have four-wheel
drive or a V-12, but rather was powered by a 542 bhp, 3.5-liter
twin-turbocharged V-6 engine. The engine was paired to a five-speed
manual transaxle, which distributed power to the rear wheels. An
amazing engineering achievement for Jaguar, a pre-production XJ220,
was tested in Fort Stockton, Texas, in 1991, recording a top speed
of 212.3 mph, making it the fastest production-intent car ever
built.
Despite its performance, some clients who left deposits after
seeing the original concept were unsatisfied with a twin-turbo V-6
and decided not to take delivery, resulting in a number of XJ220s
being left unpurchased at the factory. The XJ220 on offer was built
in the fall of 1993, finished in the stunning shade of Spa Silver
with a grey interior. It bears serial number 077 on its doorsills,
making it the 77th of just 282 examples produced.
One of the examples left unpurchased, this XJ220 remained in
England through early 2000 and was purchased by RM Auctions along
with a batch of other unpurchased XJ220s and shipped to Canada.
With only 2,700 km on its odometer, it was sold by RM Auctions to
its current owner in the U.S. and has remained with him ever since.
Clearly having been adored and well looked after over the past two
decades, this unmodified example shows limited signs of use, with
the odometer displaying less than 7,800 km from new.
Most recently, this year the XJ220 was shipped across the pond to
the U.K. and renowned XJ220 specialists at Don Law Racing, well
known as the go-to specialists on the model. No stone was left
unturned in making sure the car was brought back to as-new
condition mechanically. After being removed from the car, the
engine was fully rebuilt and all inlet and exhaust valves were
replaced, new pistons and rings were fitted, the head gaskets along
with all other perishable components such as gaskets and seals were
replaced, and the catalytic converters were rebuilt. New timing and
alternator belts were fitted, and all fluids and filters were
replaced. The transmission was also removed from the car and fitted
with a new clutch. Importantly, the fuel tank was replaced, and
along with that, new fuel hoses and pumps were installed. The
suspension was rebuilt, new brake pads were fitted after the discs
were bead-blasted and cleaned, and the wheels were fitted with four
new Bridgestone tyres. After the work was completed, the car was
road-tested, and the XJ220 was confirmed to be in excellent running
order.
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting and interesting Jaguars ever
built throughout the company's illustrious history, the XJ220 is
truly a landmark automobile in British automotive history.
Low-mileage examples in well-kept condition can be difficult to
find, and thanks to its most recent service, this example is now
ready for whatever its next owner has in store, and it would surely
be welcome at concours or Jaguar club events, thanks to its
supremely original condition and low mileage. For any collector of
British sports cars or modern supercars, an XJ220 is a must-have
automobile, and this example certainly checks all the right boxes
as perhaps the only turn-key and fully sorted XJ220 on the market
currently.
Please note the temporary import symbol incorrectly references the
EU. It should reference the UAE.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/ad19.