RM Sotheby’s Auction: 1993 Jaguar XJ220 S

Tony’s Take: Previously, on Who Wants To Spend a Million Dollars, we looked at the pros and cons of a road car modified to race: the 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR. Today we look at a race car modified for the road: the 1993 Jaguar XJ220 S.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing built the XJ220 S to satisfy IMSA Le Mans‘ homologation requirements. To that end, TWR got a hold of a Jaguar XJ220, modified it for racing, then turned it back into a road car. The end result: the five most extreme street legal XJ220’s in the history of the world ever.

This “Outrageous Orange” car had its aluminium bodywork removed—save for the door skins—and replaced with panels formed of carbon fibre composite. Similar modifications were made to the chassis tub, with wider sills, while an aerodynamic package consisted of a front splitter and an adjustable rear spoiler.

The modifications not only gifted the XJ220 S greater downforce, but they also slashed the car’s kerb weight to just under 1,080 kilograms. The 3,498 cc V-6 was also fettled to produce a staggering 680 horsepower—an improvement of more than 138 horsepower over the standard road car.

rmsothebys.com

Jaguar built 275 examples of the XJ220. TWR modded five XJ220’s to appease IMSA. Is the S a “proper factory Jag” or a tuner hot rod, as the TWR branding suggests? The jury’s still out.

A cloud hovers over the market for the Jaguar XJ220 in general, and the TWR S in specific. Collectors still haven’t forgiven Jaguar for ditching the original plans for a V8 supercar, choosing to save money by powering the world’s fastest passenger car with a six-cylinder engine that sounds like a tractor.

In 2020, an XJ220 LeMans race car sold for $1,190,970. A year later, it sold for $932,031. In 2017, an S model was up for auction, estimated at $370k – $430k. No sale.

Six years later, rare exotics are up 50 to 100 percent. If the S had sold at its predicted price, it would be an $800k car today.

Don’t see it. No olive oil heritage. I’m looking at a high bid in the low 8’s or low 9’s. Downside: the Rodney Dangerfield of supercars – on steroids.