1988 Jaguar XJR-9 Sells for Over $2M
In addition to multiple podium finishes, this Jaguar XJR-9 took victory at the 1990 24 Hours of Daytona.
If there’s anything cooler than an old race car, it’s an old race car that’s won a legendary contest. That being said? This Jaguar XJR-9 checks both boxes. Because in 1990, drivers Davy Jones, Jan Lammers, Andy Wallace took it all the way to the checked flag at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and snatched victory from the heavily favored Porsche squad. Last weekend, this machine fetched over $2,000,000 at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monaco, and while that’s a drop in the bucket compared to other weapons-grade Jags, it indicated there’s still plenty of appetite for Coventry’s old racing kit.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12, and while output isn’t specified in the listing, it’s safe to say it’s robust. Legendary race engineer Tony Southgate was responsible the overall design, which features a cutting-edge monocoque constructed from carbon fiber and Kevlar, while the wizards at Tom Walkinshaw Racing stoked the 12-pot mill to high heaven. As you can see from the pics, overall height was kept to a minimum, and the rear wheels were covered by aerodynamic panels, which made it extra on high-speed straights.
Other than the 1990 running of Daytona, the top sport on the podium proved elusive for this racer — but not by much. Here’s a bit of its racing record from 1988 to 1989, courtesy of the auction listing:
After placing 7th at the 12 Hours of Sebring, highlights in the year included 2nd at the West Palm Beach 3 Hours, 3rd at the Lime Rock 150 Laps, 3rd at the Mid-Ohio 500 km, and 3rd again at the Sears Point 500 km. Over the following year, the Jaguar fared better. To start the 1989 season in February of that year, chassis TWR-J12C-388 finished 2nd at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Remarkably, the car would place 2nd in the next four IMSA races, including at the Miami 3 Hours, 12 Hours of Sebring, Road Atlanta 500 km, and West Palm Beach 3 Hours. A 3rd-place finish followed at the Lime Rock 150 Laps, then 2nd at the Mid-Ohio 500 km, and 3rd at the Road America 500 km.
For what it’s worth, another XJR-9 won Le Mans in 1988, at a time when Porsche’s fearsome 962 was seen as almost unstoppable. So if Coventry was managing to show Stuttgart its tail pipes, this kitty must have been one seriously wicked piece of hardware. Given the current plan for Jaguar, it’s extremely unlikely we’ll ever see another internal combustion contender from the company, which make examples like this a spectacular reminder its heritage. Here’s hoping the owner of this XJR-9 takes it to vintage racing events the world over.
Photos: RM Sotheby’s