Sotheby’s Auction: Le Mans Veteran Jaguar XJ220 C LM

By John Coyle - November 19, 2021

If this weapons-grade Jaguar XJ220 hits estimates, it could become the most expensive example ever sold at auction.

Back in August, I wrote about a one-of-four Jaguar XJ220 that failed to sell during this year’s Classic Sale at Silverstone. That was a low-mile example serviced by renowned XJ220 specialist Don Law Racing, in a rare black color and right-hand drive configuration. As I noted then, bidding stalled just past the $500k mark. But perhaps that shouldn’t have been surprising. Because while less than 280 examples were produced, and despite the fact that it was once the fastest production car in the world, prices for the big cat have never really climbed.

Which makes the 1993 Jaguar XJ220 C LM currently listed on RM Sothebys a particularly interesting case. This was one of the three cars prepped by Tom Walkinshaw Racing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year, and while a blown tire on lap 176 took it out of victory contention, its running at the iconic French endurance race adds a little sparkle to its pedigree. Under the bonnet, you’ll find the same twin-turbo engine that powered the road cars, though the listing doesn’t specify how much it varies from the supercar’s stated 542 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.

When the tire failed on the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 1993 race, driver Andreas Fuchs was miraculously able to keep the car out of the wall. Unfortunately, the XJ220 wasn’t so lucky in its later life, as a member of the Jaguar Club of Japan had an off-track incident which left the weapons-grade bit of kit wadded up. According to the listing all the damage was mended by Don Law Racing, which is even more respected than Coventry’s Jaguar Classic division when it comes to fixing these extremely special machines.

After it was all patched up, this XJ220 was purchased by French dealer Jean Guikas, who added it to his collection of vintage Ferraris, Formula 1 racers, and wild one-offs like this 1966 Jaguar FT Coupé by Bertone. All of the cars are listed with no reserve, and the listed estimates for the XJ220 say it should fetch between $1,150,000 and $1,600,000. To my knowledge, even the lowest part of that range would make it the most expensive XJ220 ever sold, so it’ll be interesting to see just how far its racing livery takes it…