RE: Jaguar XJ220: PH Heroes

[SunsetZed]

Growing up as a kid this was my ultimate, to these eyes it looked amazing and frankly it still does.

If I had the funds I'd take one in a heartbeat despite the reviews on what they're like to drive!

[ukaskew]

Love them. Considering there are only 275 and presumably a number have been written off / gone abroad I've seen plenty about, hardly ever the same one twice as well.

Wilton Classic & Supercar 2014 by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

Wilton Classic & Supercar 2014 by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

Retro & Sportscar Action Day 2008 by Chris Harrison, on Flickr


I hope the values rising don't mean more and more are squirreled away.

[Miner49er]

Wilton House a few years ago:


My bedroom TV a few decades ago:

[Torquey]

I'm not normally an interior person but that is bad. It looks 20 years older than the rest of the car.
other than that the car is still beautiful.

Any reason for those heater vents? (Seriously - 6 vents is a lot for a small cabin)

[Leins]

Wasn't there one stored from new in a London bank vault, and even serviced down there. Seem to recall it being auctioned a few years ago for reasonable (supercar) money

ukaskew said:

Love them. Considering there are only 275 and presumably a number have been written off / gone abroad I've seen plenty about, hardly ever the same one twice as well.

Wilton Classic & Supercar 2014 by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

I got woken up by that car going by the campsite at Le Mans Classic last year. Best alarm clock ever

[rhinochopig]

IIRC the Engine actually bears very little resemblence to the 6R4 engine. It was a total re-design for the XJ with almost no common parts.

[Carlique]

It's always been THE dream car of mine to own. Once thing that's always bugged me though are the Rover 200 rear lights. They'd have to be swapped for Ferrari 599 rears like below:

[Baryonyx]

Still the coolest supercar of them all.

[patmahe]

The XJ220 and Bugatti EB110 hung proudly on my wall as a teenager, I'd still happily have either today at 34. Amazing looking cars and despite the usual whinging about the engine and what could have been, its no slouch in the performance stakes either.

[grumpy52]

A guy that I used to work with had a son that went through a very messy divorce but managed to hang onto his house and savings , when the dust settled he sold the house and bought a mobile home type place on a decent site and bought an XJ220 .He also got free storage as it spent most of its time in the local Jaguar dealers showroom.

[TheInternet]

Am I the only one that has always thought these were bottom of the supercar list at the time? The Amiga game was also especially cack.

[myhandle]

Love it. These are great and should be worth more than they are. Beautifully engineered and absolutely show-stopping cars with the presence to match any of the latest supercar crop. Great article, thank you.

[BelfastBoy]

The thing I absolutely adore about the XJ220 (ditto for the McLaren F1) is how timeless the shape is. It's a beautiful, simple, clean design, and the sheer size makes me incredible physical presence. Also remember reading, in the dim and distant past, a Performance Car feature where it was pointed out that the car's official BHP figure was recorded in hot conditions. Due to the turbo engines, in cool conditions, the output would be more like 600bhp. Also, from some long-lost (old) Top Gear VHS tape I had, I also recall - I think - Tiff Needell stating that the 217mph top speed was on the Nardo bowl. On a flat surface and in a straight line, the real top speed would be something like 223mph - anybody ever put that to the test, I wonder?

[myhandle]

Leins said:

I got woken up by that car going by the campsite at Le Mans Classic last year. Best alarm clock ever

Here it is again :


And another

Edited by myhandle on Wednesday 23 September 13:24

[Gecko1978]

The yellow car is an XJ220s I believe which was tuned by TWR (who made the XJR-15). It had a higher top speed (217 I think) and better brakes and fixed lights. I think there were maybe 4 or so made and other converted later. I recall seeing a sky blue one in Auto Car and a Dark blue one in Classic and sports car.

As for lap time I recall they timed it at nurburg and it did 7min something so not exactly slow. An straight line there is aa clarkson video where its faster over the 1/4 mile than a zonda. JC put it down to aerodynamics IIRC.

If I won the lotto I might just get one and then I am sure Jag could update the interior for you if you hada big enough bag of pennies.

[daveco]

[redacted]

[Scottie - NW]

The only time I have seen one of these in the flesh was about 5 years ago on the annual pilgrimage to the Ring. There it was in the car park, UK plates, and being used in the normal tourist sessions.

I wasn't a huge fan, but seeing it I have to admit a stunning car.

[ST270]

Harris did a great video at the ring with the XKR S - the 220 looks fierce under full boost......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SInTigWaDFs

[Leins]

myhandle said:

Here it is again :

Thanks, big fan of that car's look, and prefer the front-end treatment to the standard car myself. It sounded particularly awesome too

[nicholasm]

Ah, the Overdrive AD XJ220. Have to agree - I'd take the 599 rear lights, improved brakes and Akrapovic exhaust (while keeping those stunning lines). Off to buy a lotto ticket!

Carlique said:

It's always been THE dream car of mine to own. Once thing that's always bugged me though are the Rover 200 rear lights. They'd have to be swapped for Ferrari 599 rears like below: