We are incredibly honored to present new imagery here for the very first time in years thanks to @supercarrob__ of the 1993 Jaguar XJ220 S, chassis 220784, in it’s original specification when it was first converted into an ‘S’ by British motor racing team and engineer firm, Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). The XJ220 project idea was brought to life by an informal group of Jaguar 12 engineers and designers working in their spare time, known as the ‘Saturday Club’. The XJ220 began production with a 1992 model year set under a newly founded subsidiary company known as ‘JaguarSport’, the same group that brought the 1 of 50 V12 powered XJR-15 model to life in 1991. The XJ220 prototype was equipped with a V12 engine, scissor-style doors, smooth body panels, however, the production cars ultimately called for use of a twin-turbo V6 engine, traditional doors, and a variety of other changes. The ‘S’ variant was born after TWR/Jaguar designated approximately 12 XJ220 examples to become specialize variants. Of those 12 cars, the result became the 24-Hours of Le Mans prepared, class-winning carbon-fiber bodied Jaguar XJ220 C/LM (220836, 220837, 220838 and 220839), the extensively lightened aluminum bodied XJ220 N, driven in the 1993 Italian GT Championship (XPO107, XPO109, and 220769) and finally, the XJ220 S, essentially a road-going version of the C (X220793, X220784, X220779, X220803, X220802). This car, chassis 802 began its life on February 24th of 1993, the day it was built, originally finished in ‘Spa Silver’. It’s easily distinguished by being the only ‘S’ car painted blue, with the others being originally red, yellow, orange, and green. Notably, the XJ220 S features one-piece carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer bodywork and a stripped down race-orientated interior with kevlar seats. The 5 XJ220 S cars were nicknamed ‘The Opal Fruit Cars’ by a number of TWR engineers.
How many made? 5
Engine: 3.5 L (3,498 cc) twin-turbocharged Jaguar JRV-6 V6 tuned to 690hp.
Debut: 1988 British International Motor Show (standard model)
Top Speed: n/a
0-60mph: n/a
Photo Credit: @supercarrob__
Research: @rarecarsonly