Life with an XJ220

[RS_Phil]

williamp said:

RS_Phil said:

One of the minor niggles (inheritent design flaw) of the 220 is the air con system. It's a bit hit and miss as to whether you get a chilly flow, or a wheezy pant. Never really an issue in the UK other than those rare summer days that take us by suprise. It wouldn't be the issue it is without the full glass roof. Maybe it's time to look at a new system, and or find a suitable reflective film for the glass.

the glass panel must weigh a bit too. Can it be swapped out for a lighter metal panel, tastefully trimmed??

Sure can. The blue car is running a carbon roof panel which makes a huge difference. I'm just conscious of taking mine too far away from its intended spec.

[RS_Phil]

matt_knowles said:

Haha, sometimes!

No in all seriousness, I don't get sucked into all that "who's better than who". Fairly content with what I work hard for and don't worry about anyone else. It's all relative anyway.

Fully agree. If you focus on others achievements you never get your own st done.

[menoy]

RS_Phil said:

I spent a huge chunk of my childhood over here with my parents (an expat brat as such), starting in Saudi as a five week old petrol head. Fast forward beyond A-Levels and Degree stress, I hunted work to get me back. My Father by this time was on his own and was playing the mercenary travelling between the likes of Algeria, Libya, KSA and the UAE. At the time the UAE was becoming the hub of all things automotive across the region and after trying every avenue I could find, I landed a gig in the early 2000's. Oddly by that time, he had returned to the UK, however it didn't take him long to come back and play the consummate Grand Dad to my boys. I broke out of the formal corporate world 7yrs ago now but still work within the automotive landscape with work stretching across the region as a whole, along with the USA.

I stick around because I love the life, the culture, the friends I've made and of course the weather.

Don't mean to dig too deep into your life, but was it the success you had after leaving corporate that has allowed for your toys? Asking because I was (un)lucky enough to be in Dubai end of 2008 for 1.5mths, so round about the same time you say this happened. I was straight out of university (Banking), looking for a job - the place was dead. Seeing no results in finance I tried getting into automotive, applying for any job in car dealerships or anything to do with the more enthusiast oriented automotive sector, but it was just no go... so just wondering whether it worked out for you in Dubai somehow.

[Speedracer329]

Wow, great thread & a fantastic car, thanks for sharing Phil.
Like many others I lusted after the XJ220, such a wonderous looking vehicle, nothing else like it & if anything it looks more like a space ship with each passing year.

[Benmac]

Fantastic thread and car(s); thanks for sharing. I've just realised that Don Law's place is only about 15 minutes up the road from me. I wonder if they like visitors?

[TheLordJohn]

Benmac said:

I wonder if they like visitors?

I dare say they'll have the odd open day, perhaps certain local clubs etc.
I'd love to go. I've been XJ220 made for as long as I can remember.

[XB70]

Navyatco said:

Assyl, who works for Tomini, is also a member of the AMOC UAE and brings the firm's DB6 MkII to our events. The showroom classics are quite often rotated (it's essentially a collection, but many are eventually sold) - last time I was there earlier this year - there was a 300SL and no XJ220, or Montreal.

He was good enough to let me look around a while back - great guy. The collection in the storage area is also very impressive.

I have some footage of the gathering they had at the factory in about 2011/2012 - was great to see so many of them there.

[XB70]

Rensko said:

I know a couple made it to Australia - any idea as to the numbers?

There was at least one when I was living in Oz. It went up and down the east coast for sale in different dealers and the price was all over the place (I think AU$500,000 to 700,000 at one point).

Last I heard it was in Melbourne.

There was also the story (I don't know if true) that the demo car taken over for the Sydney Motor Show back in the day was...ahem...checking the speedo in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel when it went into the back of a truck.

Edited by XB70 on Tuesday 27th September 16:15

[200bhp]

XB70 said:

Rensko said:

I know a couple made it to Australia - any idea as to the numbers?

There was at least one when I was living in Oz. It went up and down the east coast for sale in different dealers and the price was all over the place (I think AU$500,000 to 700,000 at one point).

Last I heard it was in Melbourne.

There was also the story (I don't know if true) that the demo car taken over for the Sydney Motor Show back in the day was...ahem...checking the speedo in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel when it went into the back of a truck.

Edited by XB70 on Tuesday 27th September 16:15

There is at least one......

http://www.oldtimeraustralia.com/wp_car_dealer/199...

[200bhp]

Can anyone shed any light on this car that claims to be a 4x4 prototype?

http://performancedrive.com.au/for-sale-1990-jagua...

[thegreenhell]

200bhp said:

Can anyone shed any light on this car that claims to be a 4x4 prototype?

http://performancedrive.com.au/for-sale-1990-jagua...

"Like the production model, it features an all-wheel drive system ..."

Article written by someone who doesn't know much about the car? Anyway, it's this one:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19289/lot/215/?ca...

[rampageturke]

thegreenhell said:

"Like the production model, it features an all-wheel drive system ..."

Article written by someone who doesn't know much about the car? Anyway, it's this one:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19289/lot/215/?ca...

absolute bargain if someone snaps that up in estimate

edit: oh, has it already happened?

Edited by rampageturke on Monday 3rd October 15:41

[0llie]

I've just read through the whole thread, and wow has it brightened up my Tuesday morning!

I have quite a thing for the XJ220. My father had a Series 1 E-Type while I was a very young child, and naturally, I became Jaguar obsessed as a result. The XJ220 was the cream of the crop at the time, and those looks!

As a surprise, they bought me a passenger lap with Tiff Needell in an XJ220, though I can't remember the name of the event (this was 1995), I do remember it had something to do with the Stroke Association. There was all sorts there, Ferrari 355s, Aston 550 Vantage, Lister Storm, D-Types etc.

I remember the car being reversed off of the JaguarSport lorry, the driver letting me sit in it, and me just generally running around the car like a kid on crack I wasn't quite 5 years old at the time, so when I finally got in as a passenger I realised I couldn't see over the dash! So I had to sit on dads lap, thankfully this was 1995 and not 2015! I vividly remember overtaking a Lister Storm out the back of the circuit, Tiff giving it plenty of wellie. I still remember how it annihalted anything in a straight line, the sensation of speed was outrageous. Great memories.

I still maintain that I'd have one over any other supercar, my fantasy garage here still contains a green XJ220. One day! For now I'm very pleased with my XJ220 coffee table, now wearing an unused Bridegstone Expedia tyre thanks to a very kind PH member (I'm really sorry but I can't remember your username!) who told me he had one he couldn't use on his 220.






OP, your car looks amazing, and thank you for coming on here and sharing your experience with us

[big dub]

Love the 220! Just stumbled across this thread, here are a few of my 220 photos.

Big blue at Carfest North a couple years back.

Jaguar XJ220S by Rob Joyce, on Flickr


XJ220S & Ford GT by Rob Joyce, on Flickr


Jaguar XJ220S by Rob Joyce, on Flickr


Jaguar XJ220S by Rob Joyce, on Flickr


Wilton House the same year.

Jaguar XJ220S by Rob Joyce, on Flickr


Jaguar XJ220's by Rob Joyce, on Flickr

[coopedup]

Nice pictures ^^^^

[The Surveyor]

OP, thank you for posting pictures of your lovely XJ.

B1G XJ was out at one of the Malton Big Breakfast meetings a few years ago and I was lucky enough to follow it back from Malton on the Helmsley road, all the way back to Teesside and whilst the road was busy, the noise was amazing.

The XJ220 is just a very special car, a true icon

[big dub]

Saw that one at Malton too...

[chuntington101]

Is it me, or would it be really cool to see the rear wing rise up at speed P1 style?

[TheLordJohn]

chuntington101 said:

Is it me, or would it be really cool to see the rear wing rise up at speed P1 style?

Hopefully, it's just you...!

[bob-lad]

This may be the best thread I ever read.

Captain Sensible was right after all.

"You've got to have a dream"


Brilliant. Thank you.