I recently wrote about a Jaguar E-Type-inspired exotic car that has been designed in Europe, stating it is the car Jaguar should be making. Jaguar’s great history of building sports cars began immediately after the Second World War with the creation of the XK120 and continued in fits and starts right up to present day. Mind you, a pure Jaguar sports car has been lacking for quite some time, although lovers of the XK8 may disagree. To my mind, however, the XK8 is a sporty luxury car, not a luxurious sports car — and there is a huge difference between the two.

Recently, Jaguar unveiled an amazing new supercar concept — the C-X75. But, as stunning and innovative as the car is, there are also no plans to produce it. That is a pity. And there is a precedent that would certainly give any design and production executives at the company pause to reflect on leaving the safe envelope of coupes and sedan production. That bump on the road was the XJ220, a supercar Jaguar built from 1992 to 1994.

It was the fastest car in the world when it was created and its incredible looks and large size stuffed it securely into the rarefied air of the fantasy world largely inhabited by Italian creations and the odd German and American poseur. It caused quite a stir in its day and focused world attention on a car company that was struggling to keep its head above water.

When the XJ220 appeared, there was nothing else like it. Unfortunately, its production coincided exactly with the recession of the early 1990s. Marry that to the unfortunate fact early purchasers — who paid huge deposits before the cars were built — were told the XJ220 would have a V12 engine and four-wheel drive. When the production car emerged, it had neither. Instead, it was rear-drive and was powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine. Orders were cancelled, lawsuits initiated and people walked away from their deposits.

Jaguar had announced only 350 were to be built with a price tag exceeding $600,000, but, by the end of its production run, only about 265 were built and fewer than that were sold. The cars never passed U.S. import regulations, so it was never offered in the United States — or in Canada. In short, the car had been a fiscal and legal nightmare for struggling Jaguar and its memory was largely expunged from the company’s corporate conscience.

After its production, a Canadian entrepreneur approached Ford — which had purchased Jaguar — and made an offer for the unsold cars. I have heard there may have been as many as 40 of them. What I do know is that there were quite a few in Canada at one time and what they were doing in this country was waiting for a way to be sold in the United States. Happily for the entrepreneur and collectors, a way was found and a handful of 220s found their way into U.S. collections, where they were driven on display and parade plates or placed in collections.

Happily, now that the cars are older than 15 years, many jurisdictions in North America will allow them to be plated and driven (not California) — and this will prove a boon to owners who finally get to take their supercars on the road.

Make no mistake, despite its bad press, the XJ220 is one of the most beautiful and fastest supercars of all time. To prove the point, Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame drag raced an XJ220 against a Pagani Zonda, one of today’s most high-tech exotics. The almost-20-year-old Jag ate the Zonda for lunch. Not only is the Jag still a force to be reckoned with, but its unhappy past and lack of initial financial success has created an exceedingly rare and sought-after collectible.

I can personally testify to the XJ220s great abilities, sexy looks and all-round charisma. Last fall, a friend and I acquired one to resell — a car with only 2,000 kilometres on it. On a mild fall day, I took it out for a gentle drive in order to get its juices flowing properly and — until I was pulled over for exceeding the speed limit by a hair or so — I have to admit it was exhilarating, interesting and just about the coolest drive one can possibly imagine.

The XJ220 is huge; in fact, it is the largest exotic car ever built. But, when you are cocooned within it is as if you are in personal control of a ground-bound spaceship, its size becomes immaterial.

Driving it is just magical, and it also seems magical to the people seeing it as it silently speeds past. The XJ220 leaves a lot of sagging jaws in its wake — which is only its due. Even the policeman with whom I had a pleasant chat admitted there was something mythical about the car. Fortunately, he was so impressed I was allowed to proceed with just a caution. Bless him.

david@guildclassiccars.com