The XJ220
Jaguar’s Foray into the Realm of Supercar Mythology
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.
