Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
19/12/2022 3:31 pm
The so named, Jaguar XJ220, as a tribute to the bygone XK120, like its predecessor, just missed the mark. Although it did clock in at 212.3 mph, making it the fastest production car for 1992 to 1993 (until the McLaren F1 shattered the record at 240mph). This was a collaborative effort between Jaguar and Tom Walkinshaw Racing with the final twin-turbo 3.5 L V6 designed and built by TVR starting with a base Austin Rover V6. The 4-wheel drive was built by another company from a Jensen 4WD assembly. The original XJ220 concept was powered by a modified Jaguar V12, but it was race worthy only if only because it couldn't meet emission standards. It was basically made to compete with street/track supercars like the F40 and the Porsche 959. with its luxury interior and amenities. At 3240 lbs, it was a heavy car and no match for the stripped down lightweight F40 that didn't even have door handles or a carpet. Race versions were made but with little or no factory support, they didn't fare well. Only 275 cars were built and, oddly, by 2022 only 15 seem to remain in existence.
19/12/2022 4:56 pm
It's a beautiful (and fast) car with great Jaguar styling ! With the original V12 it would have been even more of a monster supercar. I had this one from Maisto in green for many years and unfortunately had to let it go in a move to a smaller place.
Topic starter
19/12/2022 5:38 pm
@mikedetorrice Actually, the twin turbo V6 was more powerful than the V12 when they got done re-engineering the original Rover. The final all out run on the XJ220, after removing the catalytic converters was a tad over 217 mph.
19/12/2022 7:45 pm
Here's a 1:1 I saw on the road about 20 years ago.
I have your model as well.
Christopher Moroni reacted
19/12/2022 8:26 pm
Thanks for another great story Rich. I still have the green 1/12 scale Maisto plus a significant number of models of it in all scales. Loved it at the time. Not so sure at this point as it was heavy and not a comfortable street car in traffic.
Maybe I could add a little to your story.
The XJ220 was fast enough to be competitive in races. A C version was developed for racing at Le Mans.
Three works XJ220-Cs were entered in the 1993 Le Mans race, in the newly created Grand Touring Class. David Brabham, John Nielson and David Coulthard won the GT class, beating Porsche by two laps; the other two cars retired, both through engine failure. However, the class win was revoked when the Jaguar XJ220-C was controversially disqualified for failing to run with catalytic converters. The win was widely publicized in the British press and car magazines of the time
Jaguar XJ220s were also used in 1993 in the USA Fast Masters series.
Fast Masters was a made-for-television series, broadcast on ESPN in 1993, featuring notable drivers over the age of 50, most of whom were retired from professional racing at the time. The Fast Masters series was a summer-long elimination competition, with identically-prepared, Jaguar XJ220s. The races took place under-the-lights at Indy Race Track as part of ESPNs Saturday Night Thunder. The races took place at the 5/8 mile paved oval at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Many of the cars were badly damaged in the racing and several were totally wrecked but the series, if you were lucky to see it was extremely entertaining with a good field of older drivers. Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser took the Fast Masters Championship and the $100,000 first prize.
Topic starter
20/12/2022 9:29 am
@david-green You know your Jags, David. What I found interesting was that when they removed the catalytic converters they claimed 50 more horsepower. I didn't realize they were that restrictive. BTW: I was really blown away how good this Maisto model was as well as the scale they attempted. Maisto was mostly low end junk back then. It made me wonder if they subbed it out.
David Green reacted
22/12/2022 12:52 am
Only 275 cars were built and, oddly, by 2022 only 15 seem to remain in existence.
I have to agree with you on the model, Rich...one of Maisto's better early efforts. I've always really liked the the XJ220. I have to ask though...I've never seen that only 15 remain. That's a crazy high number of rare cars destroyed. Where did you read that piece of info?
John Kuvakas reacted