Walking along with my head consumed by other things, I nearly missed this. A twin-turbo V6 500 bhp Jaguar XJ220, capable of an eponymous 220 miles per hour.
The XJ220 was an ambitious project developed by a team of Jaguar employees in their after hours, earning them the sobriquet ‘Saturday Night Club’. It was unveiled at the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, arriving amidst a flurry of supersupercars kicked off by the Porsche 959, Ferrari 288 GTO and Honda NSX, and later joined by newcomers Bugatti EB110 and McLaren F1 (this last model probably the most complete expression of the sports car from that period, and in the opinion of this author, still yet to be surpassed).
The original concept was modified for production – the V12 replaced with a boosted V6 and the body shortened by 10 inches. Unfortunately, its arrival coincided with a global financial downturn and delivery of customer cars didn’t begin until 1991. From an initial 1400 orders, only 350 were produced.
I suspect this example is the one that resides in the Fox Collection. Given its location when photographed, it would appear to have been taken for a freeway squirt, and was in the process of coming out of the off-ramp and re-entering the freeway in the opposite direction.
It doesn’t really set my heart on fire, but I never thought I’d see one on the road.
Having seen one of these in 3D at the ELRA Historical Races one year; must say they “read” far better while sitting or moving than in pictures. Very GOOD looking supercar! DFO
What a catch – well done Don!
Visually this car has not aged well, and looks so long. Just imagine what an even longer XJ220 V12 version would look like now.
Everyones eyes are different. I think it aged very well. Its so good in fact one who knows nothing of cars could believe it to be new.
While it looks of its time, I think it’s aged rather gracefully. Of course, this has always been among my favorite supercars, and the continued flame I hold for it may affect that opinion!
I’d absolutely love to see one on the street…
I once (in 1998 or 1999) saw one in Calais waiting for the ferry. It was dark blue and just looked like something from outer space. Pictures really don’t do these cars justice. I once saw an F40 in Monaco and the same applies: supercars are so wide and low that it just catches you off guard. Great find.
The design always reminded me of a 71-73 Mustang fastback, a Testarossa and an E-type mushed together genetically in a matter transporter. Take that observation as you will. Ironically the new Ford GT reminds me a lot of the XJ220, both long, low, twin turbo V6 hypercars, I very much admire the Ford design though. These? Ehh.
I’m always constantly surprised how many of these supersuper cars, or hyper cars, or whatever they’re called, were all late 80s- early 90s designs. The XJ220 got lost in the shuffle of 959s, F40s and F1s but they were ALL still bedroom posters for kids in the late 90s, when they were either well out of production or just about to. It’s probably nostalgia saying it but these had such a profound impact that their modern day equals just don’t have that kind of both immediate and long term staying power.
I read recently someone was going to reproduce the tire for these cars, didn’t realize they were so rare but my son probably has a HotWheel from the 90’s in his stash.
I don’t recall every seeing one in person, but they always fascinated me as a kid. Still a striking design after all these years.
I saw one of these in Las Vegas in a car exhibition in one of the hotels, and much like every other supercar from the 80s and 90s I’ve seen in person, I was astounded at how low they were. I was also surprised by how wide it was.
I do like the Jaguar XJ220, I can see why some people may not like the design, for a supercar it’s a bit too long and a bit too wide and that can turn people off. I will also admit, I do sort of wish that Jaguar could’ve found a way to bring us the original AWD, V12 powered concept. But, I still find myself having a soft spot towards the car.
Wow! I just saw one of these at the Peterson museum last month. I remember not being too impressed by these when they were new. Now as a Jaguar fan I like them more. There is a video on Jay Leno’s Garage about the XJ220. TWR (Tom Walkingshaw Racing) built these cars for Jaguar at their racing works. They later built the Aston Martin DB7 at the same factory. I’ve read that although the V6 was better from a performance aspect, losing the V12 lost the Jaguar mystique that surrounds that motor. Later there were some modified street legal, 12 cylinder Le Mans cars that were offered and damaged the XJ220 market even more. These were not that sought out until just recently, and a reunion of surviving cars in England has reflected the growing interest. Still an interesting car nonetheless.
If this is a Fox car as Don has guessed, the owner also has an XJR-15 which is the car you are referring to.
Don is most likely right, I’m not sure if there are more than 2 XJ220’s in the country.
220 MPH? Here in Kentucky, If the police actually got you to pull over, that would be a MAJOR Felony. Good for jail if not prison time. And a four figure fine, and car impounded. Reminds me of a standup comedian in the 80’s cant recall who, who pointed out that if you passed a cop at speeds like that, they wouldn’t even be able to tell what color your car was.
Well this wins the prize for the most unlikely car to be seen on Aussie (or Kiwi) streets…!
Not sure if I’ve seen one of these, but here’s the thing. I’m a petrol-head pure and simple, but much as I love Jags, the XJ220 never did it for me. I feel the same way about the VW (Bugatti) Veyron, which I have seen up-close ( looks like a giant slug..)
Once you put a very powerful motor where the back seat should be ,in a road car, it’s starting to get silly unless it knocks your socks off. I’ve seen a Miura, in pictures and up-close, and it does.Nothing else comes close.
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Pretty much sums it up for me too!
God, I’d love to have a Muira__actually two (2), so I’d at least be able to drive one (while the other is being serviced/repaired).
True story: Red Lerrel (sp?) a fitness club owner in Lafayette, Louisiana actually did own two (2) mid 80s era Countachs, for that exact reason. One day my ex passed him in one of them as it was bucking and spitting going down Johnson Street. She was driving my ’57 Healey, also running a brace of Webers (only I knew how to tune mine 😉 ).
I saw one a few years ago at the Coventry Motor Museum (well worth a visit for anyone in that area of the UK) and, like some others above found the car much better looking in person than in pictures. But yeah, to see one on the road is an event unlikely to happen anytime again soon…
I have some experience of the XJ220 as I used to ride with my friend and colleague every year from Stuttgart to Goodwood to get the British safety inspection done, as the car was registered in the UK. The owner, Gabor (hence the number plate G6BOR) has many old Jags including XKE roadster number 327. We would combine this a visit to with the Festival of Speed….His car is number 220 – the European road test car which can be seen in articles in Auto Motor Sport, etc.
Impressions? The car has very little space in the trunk or cockpit, so packing was minimal. Without the glass roof it would be really claustrophobic, even though this car has the beige interior. Paul, you would definitely not fit inside! The ride comfort is really good, whilst the motor is very unrefined – very rattly sounding, my biggest disappointment. There is nothing wrong with this car, they all have noisy valve gear. The promised V12 would have suited the car so much better and not looked more impressive in the engine bay. The exhaust note is quiet, but has a nice snarl to it. I guess people put a louder exhaust system on these to cover the mechanical noises….very tractable low down, pulling from just off idle and boy, does it go when given the berries! Handling is of the “goes where you point it” variety, steering accurate and nicely weighted whilst ground clearance is a bit of a problem (getting on and off the ferry between France and the UK was always an adventure!) Width is also extreme. I love the styling in the metal – it really is dramatically low and wide with sensuous curves and following it one can see how far forward the diffuser extends. The wheels are 17″ diameter, large for their day, but Civic sized now and the centerlock nut is torqued to something like 300lb/ft, as we found out on the car’s maiden journey after purchase when the brakes locked on. Other than that the car has been amazingly untemperamental….Incidentally, you have to renew the fuel tanks on these every few years as they are race spec – a major job which the owner, being an engineer, undertook himself……
I’ve included a couple of photos of G6BOR….
Thanks for the first-hand appraisal Hugh.
+1.
You’re right; it doesn’t look like it was made with me in mind.
My neighbor across the street built a fiberglass/composite kit airplane almost 20 years ago, and promised me a ride. i finally got it a couple of years later, but I almost couldn’t find a way to fit properly. I had to bend my head sideways under the narrow bubble canopy, and since I couldn’t seem to slide my long legs under a structural member above the long but very flat foot well, I had to have my knees up in my chest. But it was a spectacular ride, as I’m sure the 220 would be too. I’d certainly be willing to give it a shot, if offered!
…and a rear 3/4…..
It was a real privilege to ride in one!!
Wow, great photo, Don.
That car is an icon…Not sure of the 220mph claims as fake or factual, but seeing one, actually, on the move is stunning.
That is a car you see only in magazines or on posters… Kinda like my all time favorites, the BMW M1 and the Lamborghini Countach.
Seeing that low and wide exotic in reality, must’ve been like seeing a low flying UFO.
The 24valve V6 is originally designed for the Group B MG Metro 6R4, by Cosworth.
The 6R4 is normally aspirated while the Jaguar XJ 220 uses 2 turbo’s
Spares have to be tailor made, for the Metro 6R4 I work on, the pistons and piston rods have been tailor made in the USA, rebuilding the engine has taken 3 years sourcing for parts .
The XJ 220 motor has a different block casting to the 6R4 – if I remember rightly it has mounting bosses for the turbos cast in. I found one in England as a spare for my friend’s car and took it back to Germany for him. It was astonishingly compact and light……
What an unlikely sighting. Quite agree about the McLaren being the apogee, and just as unlikely, saw one of those parked casually at the top of Collins Street about 10 years ago. Also agree that the Jag fails to excite, the lumpy styling making it seem almost as wide as it is long.
Is that the MacRob Bridge (Melbourne, Aus)? If so, that’s a particularly great capture, as the road there is such an unending traffic sewer that even a car nut like me would be be looking away.
Macrob Bridge it is. I’ve actually captured many classics here including the XK150 and S3 XJ here…
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/in-motion-classic/in-motion-outtakes-brits-on-the-move-part-1-jags/
Others to come eventually.
Reading about these cars in the 90s, it seemed that the 220 was all set to become the fastest production car, be it an earlier take on the Veyron. However, development was troubled. I believe the change to a V6 disappointed some of the people who put in deposits early. Then along came the F1, which just looked so much more smaller and nimble, disconcertingly but cleverly seated three, and had a higher top speed. I’ve always felt BMW deserved the credit for the car though. The ludicrous hp/weight ratio Mclaren specified from a reliable non-turbo V12 meant that Germany did the hard yards, not the little workshop in Britain. Apart from the motor, the car itself was not exactly NASA stuff.
You’re right about the F1’s engine, but the rest of the car is almost note-perfect. Aside from Peter Steven’s sublime shape, Gordon Murray engineered a car to an exacting set of standards – as opposed to an influential set of innovations. IIRC, there was a cross-brace in the engine bay that rendered this car slightly less than perfect in Murray’s view.
I’m with Don on this – the ideas, the concept, the rigour, the engineering and the thoroughness of the F1 were pitch perfect. Yes it had a BMW engine, specially made, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Fantastic composite structure? Gold lined engine bay? So much more interesting than a Veyron.
Another illustration of different strokes–while I find the F1 to be a technological marvel and a landmark supercar, visually it’s never worked for me. Too cab forward? Too purposeful? Not sure, it just doesn’t.
BMW had nothing to do with the car other than the engine?