This Gorgeous Jaguar XJR-9 Racecar is Heading to Auction

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Jonathon Klein             

 

 

 

In the world of race cars, prices tend to go out the window very quickly. It’s extremely hard to put a price on something that only has one purpose and only a few potential buyers. It’s equally hard to put a price on it when it has such a storied history. Such is the case for this 1988 Jaguar XJR-9.

It is the surviving car of only two built, IMSA spec XJR-9’s. This car, chassis 388, actually won the 24 Hours of Daytona and was run by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. If you think that name is familiar, these are the same guys that tune GM products in Australia.

 Their names are usually on top of bright red superchargers. This car is not supercharged. But Walkinshaw didn’t just use a stock engine either.

Rather, the team used the same 5.3-liter V12 from the XJS and worked some form of Aussie magic on it to turn it into a 7.0-liter that produces around 700 horsepower and sounds incredible.

This specific car ran three full IMSA seasons from 1988-1990. In that time it achieved 14 podiums and numerous front row starts. The high point was winning the season closing 24 Hours of Daytona.

In just a few short months, this car will go up for auction at the Amelia Island RM Auction. As mentioned, it’s hard to determine exactly what the car will go for, especially at an auction. It all really depends on who is bidding and how much they want to spend.

 However, RM says the pre-auction estimate for this car is around $3 million. Nevertheless, for a piece of racing and Jaguar history, that might just be a steal.