Description
* FOR SALE* JAGUAR XJR-15 // RACED TO VICTORY BY JUAN MANUEL FANGIO II // 1 OF 16 ORGINAL RACECARS // CHASSIS 48
Equipment
Personal Steering Wheel, VDO Dials, Carbon Fibre Seats, Willans Harnesses, OZ Wheels, Pirelli Road Tyres, Lifeline Fire Suppression System
EXTERIOR
Penned by renowned designer Peter Stevens the XJR-15, or Project 9R, was formed around the highly successful Le Mans winning XJR9 with both a carbon tub and carbon bodywork – a first for any road going Supercar. This particular example, Chassis 48, is one of the 16 Racing variants created for the Intercontinental Challenge that would also go on to win the 1991 F1 support race at Silverstone piloted by Juan Manuel Fangio II. Resplendent in it’s original livery, the car has resided with a prominent collection of cars since the series finished some 33 years ago and is now available to the open market for the very first time.
The design has survived beautifully over the years, with the car looking as sleek, sculpted and fresh as when it first appeared in the Paddock at Silverstone so long ago. It’s just incredible to think this skunkworks project was created out of a van with a modelling table in the back to be worked on part time between jobs; all without Jaguar’s knowledge!
INTERIOR
Once inside, the cabin space is all business with acres of exposed carbon fibre and little in the way of sound insulation – a perfect echo chamber for that immense 6. 0 V12. The interior is a naked space bereft of carpet, door cards or even windows with plexiglas used for weight saving The dash is a lesson in practicality was home to a 220mph speedo, 7000rpm rev counter and read outs for oil pressure, oil temperature, water temperature and fuel. A chassis stamp confirms the build number from Special Operations in the door aperture.
Cars built to racing specification came with un-trimmed carbon fibre bucket seats, blue four-point Sabelt harnesses (now Willans) and a three-spoke Personal steering wheel upholstered in black leather.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
450hp in a little over a tonne makes for some explosive numbers and with appropriate gearing the XJR-15 is a genuine 200mph car. The all-alloy power unit found here was derived from a combination of two racing engines, a Group C bottom end complimented by a Group A XJS valve head and intake system; TWR at the height of it’s powers drawing on it’s most successful machines to create a unique powerhouse.
Instead of the 5 speed gearbox found in the road cars, racing versions of the XJR-15 used a six-speed manual gearbox with straight-cut gears to make up for the ‘torque’ shortfall of the modified V12…. however Walkinshaw’s right hand man Andy Morrison was quoted ‘Well why don’t we do it as a race series? We’ve got 16 spare race car gearboxes, so that’s how many race cars they’ll be!” Finally, a triple-plate carbonfibre AP Racing clutch and limited-slip differential ensure the drivetrain is strong and assured. The car retains the rear suspension unit from the XJR-9 with vertical coil-springs mounted in units with uprights within the rear wheels, allowing for the maximum possible venturi tunnels in line with flat floor Group C regs.
WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
The iconic 17-inch split rim forged alloy centre-lock wheels, 9. 5-inches wide at the front and a gargantuan 13-inches wide at the rear, were supplied by OZ Racing with Tom Walkinshaw and although signing a late supply deal with Bridgestone, this particular car currently sits on a set of period Pirelli P Zero Assimetrico road tyres.
Steel AP Racing 4 piston brakes were selected front and rear to provide immense stopping power.
HISTORY FILE
Much like the IROC and M1 Procar series before it, the Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge featured some of the most versatile and respected drivers in the world going toe-to-toe in identical machinery.
The opening event at Monaco was appropriately won by F1 and Jaguar Group C legend Derek Warwick who largely enjoyed a lights to flag victory despite tripping up at St Devote on the first lap. This car – Chassis 48 driven by Juan Manuel Fangio II – would qualify 10th and finish a strong fourth in it’s first race providing a taste of things to come with the following round at Silverstone.
With the XJR – 15’s running on home soil for the first time, and immediately following Nigel Mansell’s memorable F1 win, Derek Warwick would again qualify on pole although what promised to be a repeat of Monaco couldn’t have been further from the truth. In a chaotic 20 laps, eleven of the 16 cars involved found trouble in what proved to be a frantic race from start to finish. After settling into the top six Fangio survived contact with Armin Hahne before displacing Cor Euser and then taking advantage of the leader, Ian Flux, missing a gear to go on to take the chequered flag and win by just over four seconds!
In the third and final round at Spa, ex McLaren F1 star John Watson would assume driving duties replacing Fangio. The Ulsterman would go on to qualify 10th but would have to retire the car back to pitlane after contact on the 2nd lap with Tiff Needell.
Originally purchased by Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung Electronics, this fantastic example was retired from competition after it’s final race and kept in Germany until export to the owner’s vast collection in the US in 2006. The car would remain with it’s original owner up until 2020 before finding a new home in the UK the following year. Having been overhauled with a fine tooth comb courtesy of marque specialists Riedling & Mouser, and a subsequent shakedown at Donington Park, No 15 would be emotionally reunited with it’s last competitive driver John Watson for an XJR-15 demonstration at the 78th Goodwood Members meeting.
Chassis 48 would be hidden from public view for many years, leaving many to speculate as to it’s whereabouts or existence, so the opportunity to present the car alongside the original Silverstone prize winning XJR-S is something very special indeed. The totally original 600 mile LHD XJR-S in Mica over Grey is included with the sale as part of this prize winning package.
Please visit our website for a full write up and additional photographs.
The car is supplied having had an extensive intake inspection. Warranty, Finance, Part Exchange and Worldwide shipping are all available on request.
Buy with confidence: we operate from a 10, 000sq ft indoor showroom with the support of a fully functioning 4000sq ft preparation and service centre that includes a professional photo studio that is used by Top Gear, McLaren and Alpine Stars. We have a passionate team that work incredibly hard to ensure all our motor cars go through our rigorous and unique sales process so they are presented in the best possible condition and light, then found homes all over the world.
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** SIMILAR VEHICLES ALWAYS REQUIRED**
Selling? Our commission sale or SOR (Sale or Return) program is a great way to utilise and access our services and facilities while still maximising the return from your vehicle with minimal hassle, If you’d like to take advantage of this then please get in touch for further information. Alternatively If you’d like to move your vehicle on quickly and efficiently with minimal delay then we can make an offer on an outright purchase basis with payment and collection arranged soon after.
