1992 Jaguar XJ220

• Left-hand drive, delivered new to a Mr Jean Blaton of Belgium on the 14/12/1992
• No. 97 is presented in Silverstone Green Metallic with a beige interior
• With 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds, the XJ220 was indisputably the fastest road car on the planet
• Only 22,699 km covered, very competitively estimated, and now ready to thrill its next owner
• NB This XJ220 has formed part of a large collection with little or no use. An element of recommissioning is to be expected to return it to the road once again

It was at the 1988 British Motor Show in Birmingham, appropriately, that the sensational Jaguar XJ220 concept prototype was first revealed to the public and, as expected, orders and the required ú50,000 deposits flooded in from all corners of the world. The original concept was for a V12 engined car with a six-speed gearbox and four-wheel drive priced at just under ú300,000. However, some four years later when production commenced, the XJ220 had become a two-wheel drive, twin turbo V6 with a five-speed box on offer at ú470,000. Predictably many of the 1,500 option holders tried to cancel their purchase blaming the massive change in specification but the collapse in values of collectable supercars at the time was probably more of a factor. Eventually, the car found 275 buyers and the others don't know what they missed. Producing an impressive 549bhp at 7,000rpm and 473lb.ft at 4,500rpm and now slightly shorter by some ten 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.

With 0-60mph acceleration in a brutal 3.5 seconds, the XJ220 was indisputably the fastest road car on the planet at that time and, thanks to racing developed inboard wishbone suspension and huge ventilated disc brakes with four-piston calipers, it held the road beautifully and stopped equally as well. Production of the car began the following year in a purpose-built factory at Bloxham in Oxfordshire with the first cars delivered in July to, amongst other well-known names, Elton John, Baron Hamer of Alford and the Sultan of Brunei. On the circuits, the Jaguar also proved highly effective. In the competition version, the XJ220C, another sports car ace, Win Percy, took victory on the car's race debut in the BRDC National Sports GT Challenge. In the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hours John Nielsen, David Brabham and David Coulthard finished first in the GT class, though only for their XJ220C to be subsequently disqualified over a spurious technical infringement.

Finished in Silverstone Green Metallic with a Grey interior this, left-hand drive, XJ220 was first delivered to a Mr. Jean Blaton of Belgium on the 14th December 1992 and has covered 22,699 kilometres, or 14,100 miles, from new. In recent years the XJ220 has formed part of a large collection and as such has received little or no use and an element of recommissioning is to be expected to return it to the road once again. Your inspection pre-sale is welcomed and encouraged to appreciate the potential of this rarely offered motor car.