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Car abuse: abandoned XJ220


Andy_Bangle
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Rare Jaguar XJ220 left to wither in Qatar?

Ever wonder what happens to all those supercars that go to the Persian Gulf? After seeing this images, you'll wish you hadn't.

This Jaguar XJ220 – a veritable poster child for the dawn of the modern supercar era, the one-time standard bearer of the 200 MPH Club and one of only 281 produced – made its way from Coventry to Lebanon, then through a Dubai dealership before finally ending up in Qatar.

With only 900 kilometres (560 miles) on the clock, this big cat has clearly been subjected to more abuse than any supercar lover (or animal rights activist) could possibly stand to see. The neglect, from the pictures at least, doesn't look much worse than a good washing could recover, so here's hoping.

Full story: Jaguar XJ220 // Leaving a Big Cat to die | crankandpiston.com

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A quick claying and 2 bucket wash and it could look like new again:

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The Top Gear review, if I remember correctly, didn't exactly shower it with praise. But Jeremy Clarkson did demonstrate how if you floored the accelerator the radio would fly out of the dashboard. Which would be a fun game when you're bored on the M4.

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Still faster than Lambo's, Paganis, Porsche's of todays era apparently.

Depends which models. Top speed of the XJ220 was 217mph, which in itself was some achievement. Fastest production car on the road until the McLaren F1 arrived a couple of years later.

I remember being at Coys Historic Festival circa 1992. Saw a yellow one similar to this, only without the spoiler and dodgy wheels.

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Spoke to the owner briefly. He described it as an awful car to drive but he loved it anyway. And he'd know - let's just say he's quite familiar with the Silverstone GP circuit among others... ;)

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I suppose if you've got enough money 560 miles is more than enough to realise how utterly shyte it is and that you might as well just park it at the back of the yard and accept the mistake.

Considering it was a compromise of a design/engine too. Delays and extra costs blah blah

Initially it was to be a V12 of some sort - then transpired to be a V6 turbo???

Fast as feck, but still a compromise.

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I used to look at the XJ220 as one of those hyper cars despite it not being all it should have been. But then my perception of it changed when I was doing a track day at Donington.

I was in a race spec Caterham shod with slicks and there was an XJ220 being given a work out. I over took him just after the loop and since then I've just kinda been a bit disappointed with it. I guess it's like driving a car you grew up with on a poster and it not living up to your preception.

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You've gotta presume from that video that the jag was on a warm up when the caterhampassed it. It does look it's age though. Still a mac f1 for me please.

Certainly makes me wonder ... but then straight lines and bends could be where the difference is :confused:

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