1993 Jaguar XJ220

Chassis No. SAJJEAEX8AX220792
The late 1980s saw nearly all the major performance car manufacturers of the day embroiled in an all-out knife fight to develop the fastest 200-plus mile-per-hour supercar. Porsche had introduced its 197 mph top-speed 959 in 1986, followed shortly thereafter by Ferrari's 201 mph F40, with news of Bugatti's new EB 110 on the horizon by 1991. Jaguar, on the heels of its incredibly successful endurance sports car racing program and overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988, was keen to implement its race-winning technology into a 200 mile per hour monster to top all other manufacturers. The concept broke cover at the 1988 Birmingham International Motor Show as the XJ220, indicating Jaguar's target 220 mph top speed just as the XK120 had 40 years prior.
Its Keith Helfet-penned exterior was pure sculpture in motion – a lean, gorgeous shape that was equal parts aggressive and graceful. The nose featured innovative headlights poached from the F-Type concept of 1986 with covers that dropped down into the body when in use and a delicate elliptical grille directing air to the front-mounted radiator. At the rear, a large glass engine cover offered a glimpse of the mid-mounted 6.2-liter V12 and sloped down into a subtle rear wing. Its impossibly low stance was also unlike anything from its rivals, measuring over 16 feet long, 7 feet wide, and merely 45.3 inches tall. Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) was tasked with development and construction of the production XJ220, of which just 350 examples were slated for production.
When the first production XJ220s were delivered to customers in mid-1992, they retained the glorious aluminum bodywork of the concept over an Alcan bonded honeycomb aluminum chassis. Mounted in the middle was now a 542 horsepower, twin-turbocharged V6 derived from the unit in the Group B Metro 6R4 rally car, mated to a conventional five-speed manual transmission. Jaguar had not only achieved its goal of building the world's fastest production car, with a demonstrated top speed of 212.3 miles per hour, the XJ220 also upheld standards of luxury and elegance befitting a Jaguar. An ergonomic cabin trimmed in Connolly hides cossetted its occupants, while a small luggage compartment made a weekend getaway a realistic possibility. The Jaguar's double wishbone suspension all around contributed to its well-behaved demeanor and good road manners, while its thrilling exterior styling made it an instant international sensation.
Approximately 282 examples of the XJ220 were produced in total, including this left-hand drive example completed on 5 February 1993 – with its driver's-side kick plate identifying it as car number 049. Finished in the concept launch livery of Spa Silver over a Smoke leather interior, copies of original sales and export documentation on file show that the new XJ220 was initially shipped to Finatrans in Strasbourg, France in April 1993. The XJ220 was acquired by its first Swiss owner, who would remarkably keep the car for the next 26 years. Period photos depict the collection of his prized new possession and subsequent loading onto a covered trailer behind a Mercedes S-Class for its onward journey to Fribourg. Subsequent service documents invoiced to the Swiss owner's company record that the car was serviced at Jaguar Cars Ltd. in Coventry, England in 2003, showing a mere 887 kilometers on the odometer at the time. After this initial period of limited use, it appears that the XJ220 was essentially undriven and carefully stored until it was acquired by its current owner in 2019.
Following purchase and import to the US, in 2021 Curated Restoration & Service in Miami, Florida was entrusted with carrying out a comprehensive major service at a cost of $32,000, including fuel cell replacement. Largely preventative maintenance, the ultra-low-mileage Jaguar was treated to a complete six-year service kit, a Lamborghini fuel cell, braided fuel hose set, fuel pump motor, new specially developed Bridgestone tires, headlight bulb replacement, replacement belts, fuel filter, and a fluid change. The rejuvenated XJ220 was then shown at The Bridge later that year, likely its first public appearance in quite a few years.
Today, car number 049 stands as a paragon of originality, with just 997 kilometers recorded at the time of cataloging. Preserved in time-capsule condition and meticulously maintained in recent years, while boasting the care of just two owners from new, it is undoubtedly one of the finest XJ220s to have ever come to market. Furthermore, in July of 2022, the Jaguar underwent further mechanical sorting courtesy of Hudson Historics in Warwick, New York, which encompassed repairing the fuel pumps and wiring harness, as well as recharging the air conditioning system. Supplied with many of its correct and original factory accessories including its car cover, tool kit, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit, this extremely low mileage and immaculately preserved XJ220 would make a worthwhile addition to any collection of important modern supercars.