1996 Jaguar XJ220 - upgraded by Don Law

1996 Jaguar XJ220

One of just 69 RHD XJ220s built. Finished in desirable Le Mans Blue. Three owners from new, upgraded and serviced by Don Law.

Chassis: SAJJEAEX7AX220845

It was at the 1988 British Motor Show in Birmingham that the sensational Jaguar XJ220 concept prototype was first revealed to the public and, as expected, orders and the required £50,000 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 £300,000. 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 £470,000. Predictably many of the 1,200 option holders tried to cancel their purchase blaming the massive change in the 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, 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 motorsport-developed, suspension and huge ventilated disc brakes with four-piston calipers, it held the road beautifully and stopped equally as well. On the circuits, the Jaguar also proved highly effective. The full-race version, the XJ220C, took victory on the car’s race debut in the BRDC National Sports GT Challenge and in the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hours, John Nielsen, David Brabham and David Coulthard finished first in the GT class.

This Jaguar XJ220 is one of just 69 right-hand drive examples ever built, finished in the rare and striking Le Mans Blue over a grey interior. A three-owner car, it has been cherished by its most recent keeper for the past 19 years.

Delivered via Grange Jaguar Exeter to its first owner, C.P.M Swan of Stratford-Upon-Avon in January 1996 and registered as N880 UDV, and then 22 CS. Finished in Le Mans Blue over grey, Swan covered the initial 1,000 miles in just three months, returning it to the Browns Lane Service Department for the initial service. Browns Lane continued to service the XJ220 for Swan every year, almost without fail, until 2001. XJ220 specialist Don Law took over the maintenance at 5,882 miles for the second owner, David Myers, in 2004.

The current, third owner bought the Jaguar in October 2006, continuing the relationship with Don Law. The first thing he did was to have Law service the car, and fit the impressive brake upgrade kit, as well as a sports exhaust, suspension upgrade and parking sensors at a cost of £15,000.

Law has continued to service the XJ220, with the most recent in May 2024 which included changing the cambelts.

The original handbooks, tool roll, second set of keys, dealer keyring, copies of all ownership V5 registration documents and a file of extensive service history accompany the car. With only three owners from new, with full supporting documentation and in arguably the best colour scheme, this is a very good example of the coverted XJ220.

Available now for viewing and demonstration at Pendine’s Bicester Heritage showroom.