It was at the 1988 British Motor Show, in Birmingham appropriately, that the sensational Jaguar XJ220 concept prototype was first revealed to the public and, as expected, orders and the required £50,000 deposits flooded in from all corners of the world. The original concept was for a V12 engined car with a six speed gearbox and four-wheel drive priced at just under £300,000 however, some four years later when production commenced, the XJ 220 had become a two wheel drive, twin turbo V6 with a five speed box on offer at £470,000. Predictably many of the 1500 option holders tried to cancel their purchase blaming the massive change in specification but the collapse in values of collectable supercars at the time was probably more of a factor. Eventually the car found 275 buyers and the others don't know what they missed. Producing an impressive 549bhp at 7,000rpm and 473lb.ft at 4,500rpm and now slightly shorter by some 10 inches courtesy of the smaller dimensions of the V6 engine against the bulky V12, but still with a not inconsiderable girth of six feet and six inches, the XJ220 proved more than capable of reaching its target maximum speed. In 1992 at the Italian Nardo test track Formula One and sportscar ace, Martin Brundle, recorded 212.3mph around the banking in standard trim and 217.1mph with the catalytic converters disconnected, the latter speed equivalent to 223mph on a straight road.
With 0-60mph acceleration in a brutal 3.5 seconds, the XJ220 was indisputably the fastest road car on the planet at that time and, thanks to racing developed inboard wishbone suspension and huge ventilated disc brakes with four piston calipers, it held the road beautifully and stopped equally as well. Production of the car began the following year in a purpose-built factory at Bloxham in Oxfordshire with the first cars delivered in July to, amongst other well-known names, Elton John, Baron Hamer of Alford and the Sultan of Brunei. On the circuits, the Jaguar also proved highly effective. In the competition version, the XJ220C, another sports car ace, Win Percy, took victory on the car's race debut in the BRDC National Sports GT Challenge. In the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hours John Nielsen, David Brabham and David Coulthard finished first in the GT class, though only for their XJ220C to be subsequently disqualified over a spurious technical infringement.
Manufactured on the 1st of February, 1994 and first registered in the UK on the 10th of May, 2001, this left-hand drive car was purchased by the current owner with a total mileage of 4,239 kilometers and has been professionally laid up and stored as part of a very significant private collection. In February 2011, it was sent to the respected Jaguar specialist, Don Law, where it had a new fuel cell fitted and all fuel related items serviced with the hoses being replaced with stainless steel over braid, along with a full 24-month comprehensive service.
Finished in striking Silverstone green with a sand leather interior this XJ220 is perhaps the finest example on the market today and is supplied with the original owner's service manuals and tool kit, as well as a UK V5C registration document. With only 275 examples produced, the XJ220 is a rare beast indeed and offers genuine 200+mph performance at a fraction of the cost of its contemporaries. Whilst initially it's reputation was sullied by disgruntled potential buyers trying to get their deposits back, its value as a fabulous driver's car is now finally being recognised by collectors globally and values are starting to climb.
This car has a full service history, starting with the delivery of the car to Switzerland and up to an indicated 3,909 km. and attached is the Production Record Trace Certificate Number. Importantly all the major service history relates to work carried out by Jaguar Sport Motors with additional attention by Don Law which is very, very rare for a 220 given the global distribution of these supercars. The car is supplied with the complete set of 2 service books (Service Manuals for Spare Parts / Service Procedure) which are, apparently, very rare and the complete MOT history.]]>