Few models of the 1980s and 1990s supercar boom have aged more gracefully than Jaguar’s XJ220, which debuted in concept form to overwhelming acclaim at the 1988 British International Motor Show in Birmingham. The original concept utilized a V-12 engine and all-wheel drive, creating an extraordinary buzz in the car world. Even with an enormous asking price of £290,000 in the UK, over 1,000 orders were taken, each requiring a £50,000 deposit.

The transformation of the XJ from concept to production was one of the more arduous tasks undertaken by Jaguar, and after the company was sold to Ford in 1989, the project’s development was shifted to Tom Walkinshaw Racing. After undergoing several years of development supervised by Jaguar’s competition concern, JaguarSport, the XJ220 eventually featured a race-proven, twin- turbocharged V-6 from the MG Metro Group B rally car, under the beautifully curved aluminum coachwork penned by Keith Helfet. Concessions made to cost were the V-12 engine, all-wheel drive, and scissor-style doors, yet the Jaguar entered production in 1992 with a substantially higher new price of £470,000. Performance was blisteringly fast, with 0–60 mph taking just 3.6 seconds on the way to an over 200 mph top speed, but its cost resulted in just 282 examples being constructed.

The immaculate XJ220 offered here is a right-hand-drive example that was sold new in the UK, finished in Le Mans Blue over a gray interior. The original owner drove the Jaguar a scant 44 miles before placing it in static storage for more than 20 years, and eventually selling it to the consignor.

In current ownership, the XJ220 was sent to the marque experts at Don Law Racing in the UK for extensive servicing and recommissioning. This work included an engine rebuild to to address issues resulting from long-term static storage, as well as attention to the fuel and braking systems. All told, roughly £80,000 was spent between 2020 and 2021, as shown in invoices on file.

Jaguar has long stood as an icon for its stylish and potent performance cars, as well as its successes on the racetrack and subsequent adoption of those technologies in their road car offerings. The XJ220 encompasses this strategy perfectly, and stands as a uniquely British take on the automotive excesses of the era. Spurred on by intense competition, the XJ220 project ultimately provided an object of pure desire, and its charms are not likely to fade anytime soon.

Recent years have seen a boost in interest for all of the supercars developed in this era, including the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959. The Jaguar XJ220 perfectly encompasses the qualities that have spurred the fixation of countless enthusiasts; these cars are beautiful, rare, fast, and wonderfully analog – all attributes coveted by many of today’s collectors.