Coys Auction - True Greats
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1

Thursday 4th December 2008

It was at the 1988 British Motor Show that the sensational Jaguar XJ220 concept prototype was first revealed to the public and predictably orders and the mandatory £80,000 deposits flooded in from all corners of the world.

Producing an impressive 549bhp at 7,000rpm and 473lb.ft at 4,500rpm, the 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. Combined with