Earlier this year we noted that 2017 is the 25^th anniversary of the launch of this once world-beating but still iconic car.

At the same time we mentioned that our 1995 car was undergoing maintenance work. That work is ongoing due to delays our Workshop team have experienced along the way.  This is a very complicated vehicle indeed comprised of thousands of unique and expensive parts; to call it a “thoroughbred” is something of an understatement.  We will let you know how this work progresses. 

The history of the XJ220 is as complicated as the car itself, but no less fascinating for it.  The idea was for Jaguar to have a new racing car but the public’s ecstatic reaction to its launch at the 1988 NEC Motor Show prompted the manufacturer - now owned by Ford - to offer a version for the road.  Jaguar would now be compared to, and be competing with, the then contemporary Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40. 

In its day the XJ220 was the fastest car on the road.  It looked wonderful too but, despite all of its highly desirable attributes, forces beyond Jaguar’s control meant that it was, even by today’s standards, hugely expensive to buy and only 275 of the possible 350 were ever made.  The last car left the XJ220 production line in 1994. 

Our car can be found in the Museum’s Supercar Century display.