The XJ220
Few tales resonate like Jaguar’s audacious foray into the realm of supercar mythology with the XJ220. And as we bid adieu to the last of the F-types — the end of the fire breathing, petrol-fueled beasts — it is incumbent upon us to bow our heads in retrospection upon this behemoth of speed and grandeur.
Conceived not in the sterile confines of a corporate boardroom, but birthed in the after-hours passion of Jaguar’s “Saturday Club”, the XJ220 was more than an audacious gambit; it was a bold departure from competitors at the time like the Ferrari F40.
What began with Jim Randle, underwent a metamorphosis under Jaguar Sport and Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) after Ford’s acquisition of Jaguar in 1989. The intended V-12 was supplanted by a 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 — a veritable ‘David’ among ‘Goliaths’ of the time. But it was enough to propel the beast to a staggering 218 mph, crowning it, if only for a moment, the world’s fastest production car.
Enter chassis number 220686, a 1993 model. It is a paragon of the XJ220 — draped in hues of Spa Silver over Smoke Grey; reminiscent of a Turner landscape. By all indications, the car has been well-cared for with at least $175,000 invested in it’s upkeep since 2016. The car, while expected to possibly bring in as much as $600,000, crossed the block at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2024 sale for a mere $472,500. A bargain for the buyer for sure.
But the XJ220 is more than entries on financial statements, more than a collectible. It is a mosaic of dreams, ambition, and passion — a testament to the glory of Jaguar’s heyday. Most importantly, it is a beacon of hope in the humdrum world of hybrid and electric vehicles with no soul.
