Description
2004 Jaguar XJR Registration Number: EK04 SJV Chassis Number: TBA Recorded Mileage: c. 123, 600 miles For a brand known for its sporting saloons, Jaguar by the 1980s had settled into making cars that were targeted more toward the fat cat than the cool cat. The XJ6 had become rather more golf club than squash club, and the XJ-S – while it retained some sporting image – appealed to exactly the same buyers as the E-Type had. Not the same social type, but the very same people, 20 years on and comfortably into late middle age. But Tom Walkinshaw felt that Jaguar could regain the image it had had. In 1981, he approached Jaguar with a proposition – he could win the European Touring Car Championship in an XJ-S if they would sponsor the project. By 1982 he took a win and the sponsorships increased, by 1984 that had become victory in the driver’s championship. Tom Walkinshaw would also help Jaguar win the World Sports Car Championship in 1987, 1988 and 1991. In 1984 he began to offer upgrades for Jaguar road cars, sold under the TWR JaguarSport brand. Bigger wheels, blueprinted engines, better exhausts, suspension and steering tweaks sharpened up the XJ-S, TWR offered similar options for the Series 3 and subsequent XJ40 saloons. By 1988 Jaguar had realised there could be a real market for this type of upgrade, and a subsidiary company called JaguarSport Ltd was set up, with Sir John Egan as Chairman and Tom Walkinshaw as Managing Director. Fast forward to 2003 and the third-generation Jaguar XJ (or X350 as it was known internally) carried that tradition on with some aplomb. With an aluminium monocoque chassis, the car was 40% lighter and 50% stiffer than the outgoing model’s, the styling a gentle development of the signature rounded, hooded-headlight style. Jaguar naturally developed an XJR version; the previous version had a 326bhp supercharged straight-six, the new model had a 395bhp supercharged V8 under the bonnet. As silky smooth as it was powerful, the short-wheelbase car hit 0-62mph time of just 5. 3 seconds might have been impressive but it was its blistering mid-pace acceleration that stunned those lucky enough to be able to drive one. This classic vehicle will be coming to auction with Dore & Rees Auctions on Saturday 22nd June. For further information please contact the Motoring department.
