Once distinguished as the world’s fastest production automobile, the XJ220 humbly began as the pet project of group of Jaguar designers, who would eventually be dubbed the “Saturday Club” for their efforts after regular business hours. Director of product engineering Jim Randall conceptualized the model as an extension of the successful XJR sports racers, originally envisioning a dual-purpose Group B car with V-12 power and all-wheel drive, capable of competing with the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959.

A prototype presented at the 1988 Birmingham International Motor Show received unanimous praise, and customer interest skyrocketed. But Jaguar was not in the habit of building supercars, and the timing of Ford’s acquisition of the British boutique led to a conflict in corporate priorities. Construction of the XJ220 was therefore eventually delegated to Jaguar Sport, the subsidiary racing company created in tandem with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), the competition concern responsible for the latest evolution of XJR racecars.

TWR had created a new engine for the XJR-11 racer of 1989, a 542-horsepower, all-alloy, turbocharged V-6 that was developed from Austin-Rover’s Group B rally car. This turbo V-6, dubbed the JV6, was chosen to be the new engine for the XJ220. Its diminutive volume and size allowed it to be neatly packaged amidships within slippery aluminum coachwork penned by Jaguar designer Keith Helfet. Entering production in 1992, the XJ220 was named for its projected top speed, 220 mph, which was nearly achieved in a time trial on the high-bank test track in Nardo, Italy. The model proved quicker to 60 mph than both the Ferrari F40 and Lamborghini Diablo and even set a new lap record for a production car at the Nürburgring.

Fewer than 300 examples of the XJ220 were built through 1994, at which point the program was canceled in the wake of the collapse of the supercar market. Rightly viewed as the spiritual descendent of important sports-racing Jaguars like the XKSS and XJ13, the XJ220 forever captured the imagination of supercar enthusiasts with its sublime curves and low roof. It remains a unique favorite among marque enthusiasts today.

According to a history certificate from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, chassis number 220632 was delivered in March 1994 finished as it is today in Le Mans Blue over Smoke Grey leather. An exceptionally well-maintained example, this XJ220 displayed just over 3,200 kilometers (1,988 miles) from new at cataloguing time. Notably, it benefits from a highly desirable and well-regarded kit service from the noted XJ220 gurus at Don Law Racing. Installed in 2022 by Curated of Miami, Florida at a cost of nearly $62,000, the service kit featured numerous upgrades for the electrical, fuel, and braking systems. A new set of Bridgestone tire was also installed at the time. An official Jaguar affiliate, Law’s service kits are considered essential for any well-sorted XJ220.

With extremely low mileage and superbly maintained, this is an exceptionally well-preserved example of one of the 1990’s most impressive and elusive supercars.