Jaguar XJ220 auction bargain
Discussion
I read recently in the news that one of the major auction houses recently sold a low mileage Jaguar XJ220 (once valued at £403,000) for just over £85,000. Can anyone remember such a commercial disaster as this car!. I never liked its appearence and thought that Jaguar's decision to drop a huge V12 was a big mistake mistake but to see one sell for what is comparitive peanuts is interesting. I'm sure I could get a Diablo fot that much though!.........
I'll have a hunt around and see if I can find the auction details.
I'll have a hunt around and see if I can find the auction details.
quote:
I thought the 6R4 was a Rover 3.5 V8 with two turbos?
Would still love one of them.
Matt.
In it's conception, it was proposed that they used a Rover v6 - which was the V8 with 2 cylinders lopped off - but it only produced 220bhp, so they eventually made it a 3 litre and got about 250bhp out of it... gave it 4WD... think it won one major rally under the Group B rules. Later cars made 400bhp, but it was only ever fuel injected - never turbo'd.
>> Edited by Podie on Monday 19th August 10:02
The Jaguar XJ220 that people put their deposits down for was going to be V12 and 4WD.
By the time Jaguar delivered, it was a V6 twin-turbo and RWD. The market had also collapsed, so many buyers asked for their deposit back.
Instead of agreeing, or just saying that the deposit was forfiet, Jaguar actually tried to sue the buyers to fulfil their contracts and buy the cars. The buyers then counter-sued that the car offered was not the car they had put a deposit down on.
It was all very sad and messy.
By the time Jaguar delivered, it was a V6 twin-turbo and RWD. The market had also collapsed, so many buyers asked for their deposit back.
Instead of agreeing, or just saying that the deposit was forfiet, Jaguar actually tried to sue the buyers to fulfil their contracts and buy the cars. The buyers then counter-sued that the car offered was not the car they had put a deposit down on.
It was all very sad and messy.
The XJ220 had less than confidence inspiring brakes, so legend has it and probably suffers from 'hypercaritus,' something fellow PHer Manu has discussed which affects brands other than Ferrari when they try to go above a certain price bracket with a mega car concept.
However, as an engineering tour de force, little compares. If you listen to Clarkson's 'Born To Be Riled' tape he describes driving one at 200 mph through the Arabian desert in hot pursuit of an F40 and "loping" past with considerable ease!
For me, the shape is just divine and as has been suggested above, people tend to forget/overlook the truly shattering momentum this monster generates - it reminds me of a latter day Bluebird (a la Campbell, not Datsun, I must stress!), what with all those swoops and ducts - fabulous.
I saw one once, just pootling along in a 40 zone and I was mesmerized by it's sheer scale.
I think it's one of those cars that needs to be seen in the metal to swoon effectively!
This would have been a great British leviathan with which to have bestrode The Empire...
However, as an engineering tour de force, little compares. If you listen to Clarkson's 'Born To Be Riled' tape he describes driving one at 200 mph through the Arabian desert in hot pursuit of an F40 and "loping" past with considerable ease!
For me, the shape is just divine and as has been suggested above, people tend to forget/overlook the truly shattering momentum this monster generates - it reminds me of a latter day Bluebird (a la Campbell, not Datsun, I must stress!), what with all those swoops and ducts - fabulous.
I saw one once, just pootling along in a 40 zone and I was mesmerized by it's sheer scale.
I think it's one of those cars that needs to be seen in the metal to swoon effectively!
This would have been a great British leviathan with which to have bestrode The Empire...
quote:
Agreed, most beautiful looking supercar that side of the Murcielago.
Used to go out with a girl whose father had one, if he drove it to the supermarket it would need 4 parking spaces as it was so long and wide.
Matt.
Hey Matt,
And you DON'T any more? What you thinkin' bro?
But seriously, did you ever get to go in it? And pray tell, what colour of marking was the beast? Blimey, the knees do tremble.
Have seen one in the flesh only once, but it was on the way to the Goodwood FOS one year in the sunshine, with a rather happy old gentleman driver at the helm, who bore a rather uncanny resemblance to Norman Dewis (sp?), the legendary Jag test driver.
Also remember the Clarkson segment on Top Gear about depreciation. After going through some pretty poopy machinery JC introduced the biggest bargain: an XJ220. Demonstrating it's acceleration he pootled along in 3rd at about 50, downshifted and floored it. Alpine unit flew out of the dash and bounced off the transmission tunnel!
Always fancied one after that!
Also remember the Clarkson segment on Top Gear about depreciation. After going through some pretty poopy machinery JC introduced the biggest bargain: an XJ220. Demonstrating it's acceleration he pootled along in 3rd at about 50, downshifted and floored it. Alpine unit flew out of the dash and bounced off the transmission tunnel!
Always fancied one after that!
A couple of years ago the Jaguar dealer at Brentwood had a used XJ220 for sale in the showroom. From memory it was about 95,000 quid and a very clean, low mileage example. I spent about an hour looking at the car. The attention to detail was impeccable, with many handmade components in evidence. For example, have a look at the petrol filler cap...it is beutifully made! (Perhaps Leven were subcontractors! 
)
The V6 was indeed derived from the Rover V8 and had been developed for the Metro 6R4 and was further substantially modified for use in the XJ220.
In the XJ220 it was 3.5l and had four cam shafts, twin injectors, twin turbochargers, four valves per cylinder and dry sump lubrication. Power was around 500BHP.
Using the V6 instead of the originally planned V12, meant that the original design concept could be shortened by 10 inches. The car was still 6ft 6inches wide though.
The XJ220 was built in Bloxham by a joint venture between Jaguar and TWR. Many of the transmission and suspension components were race derived items.
I think it was Jim Randle at Jaguar who started work on the XJ220 project.
Initially it was not an official Jaguar project but when the Jaguar Board got to hear about it, they gave the project company backing and the prototype car was shown in 1988.
A very special supercar...RESPECT!
PS I don't even like "normal" Jags!!!
The XJ8...the only car to give "Toffer" back ache.
By the way, the dealer in Brentwood was excellent....
Should have employed chiropractors instead of mechanics though!!!
) The V6 was indeed derived from the Rover V8 and had been developed for the Metro 6R4 and was further substantially modified for use in the XJ220.
In the XJ220 it was 3.5l and had four cam shafts, twin injectors, twin turbochargers, four valves per cylinder and dry sump lubrication. Power was around 500BHP.
Using the V6 instead of the originally planned V12, meant that the original design concept could be shortened by 10 inches. The car was still 6ft 6inches wide though.
The XJ220 was built in Bloxham by a joint venture between Jaguar and TWR. Many of the transmission and suspension components were race derived items.
I think it was Jim Randle at Jaguar who started work on the XJ220 project.
Initially it was not an official Jaguar project but when the Jaguar Board got to hear about it, they gave the project company backing and the prototype car was shown in 1988.
A very special supercar...RESPECT!
PS I don't even like "normal" Jags!!!
The XJ8...the only car to give "Toffer" back ache.
By the way, the dealer in Brentwood was excellent.
... Should have employed chiropractors instead of mechanics though!!!
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