One to Buy: Bathurst 1000 and multiple ETCC race-winning 1984 TWR Jaguar XJS Gr.A
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Having been founded in 1976, Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) quickly became renowned for its work with privateer BMWs. The firm then picked up a manufacturer contract with Mazda for the British Touring Car Championship that yielded title-winning campaigns in 1980 and ‘81.
For 1982, TWR began a long-standing relationship with British Leyland division, Jaguar, that saw Group A examples of the XJS campaigned in the premier Division 3 class of the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC).
TWR and Jaguar scored four wins from ten outings in 1982, five from twelve in 1983 and seven from twelve in 1984 when Tom Walkinshaw himself was crowned that year’s Drivers’ champion.
For 1985, British Leyland had TWR campaign Rover SD1s in the ETCC while Jaguar withdrew in anticipation of a Group C Sports car programme. However, the XJSs did make a one-off trip to the Bathurst 1000 in 1985 where Armin Hahne and John Goss took a historic win.
Currently on offer at the Duncan Hamilton ROFGO showroom in Micheldever, Hampshire, is a TWR XJS built up for the 1984 season: chassis 004.
Constructed to the ultimate specification for these cars, 004 became a multiple ETCC race winner during that victorious ‘84 campaign and was also the chassis that Hahne and Goss took to victory with in the 1985 Bathurst 1000.
Today, 004 is being offered from 20 year ownership, during which time it has been maintained without regard to expense and is thus presented in superb race-ready condition.
