One to Buy: ex-Minoru Miura 78 miles from new 1991 Jaguar XJR-15
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Of all the great 1980s and 90s supercars, Jaguar’s spectacular XJR-15 is perhaps the least widely known.
The brainchild of Tom Walkinshaw who ran Jaguar’s racing programme of the time, the XJR-15 was conceived as a true Group C racer for the road. Loosely based around Jaguar’s Le Mans-winning XJR-9, the XJR-15 offered those who could afford the near $1m price an unmatched specification and truly extraordinary driving experience.
At its heart was a formidable six-litre 450bhp normally aspirated V12 hooked up to a five or six-speed manual gearbox. Together, the engine and ‘box acted as a stressed member once bolted to the carbonfibre tub’s rear bulkhead. Double wishbone suspension utilised pushrod-activated coil sprung dampers and massive 13-inch vented disc brakes were fitted all round along with four-piston AP calipers. Body panels were fashioned entirely from carbon-Kevlar composite.
Just 50 XJR-15s were produced during the course of 1991, 23 of which left the factory in racing trim with the remaining 27 finished as road cars.
One of these 27, chassis 008, will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction on August 19th.
Chassis 008 was originally sold to the renowned Miura Shoji collection of Chiba-based Minoru Miura where it remained until 2018. At this point the car departed for the United States where it has resided in the hands of another two collectors.
Finished in trademark XJR Blue with Grey leather upholstery, chassis 008 is today showing a remarkable 78 miles on the odometer and is almost certainly one of the best preserved XJR-15s in existence.
