Get your bidder paddle ready, a rare Jaguar going to auction!

The 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 is the only survivor of the purpose-built IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) spec racecars. Chassis 388 was a proven race winner during the 1988-90 seasons and even won the 1990 Daytona 24 hour race with Jones/Lammers/Wallace behind the wheel. This car was one of three built to compete in the 88 IMSA GT Championship races by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). Davey Jones and Jan Lammers drove the car in 1988-89 to several podium finishes and never worse than a top seven. They even helped Jaguar finish 3rd in the IMSA Constructors Championship solidifying their place in Group C Racing.

In 1989 the car was driven by Price Cobb and Joh Nielson and they led it to an outstanding record of finishing on the podium in two thirds of all the races it ran in. This car also solidified a podium finish at Sebring in 1990. Clearly this single car helped Jaguar to regain some serious endurance racing prominence.

TWR modified a 5.3 liter V12 from the XJS into a 7.0 liter 690 horsepower beast that was said to sound like a locomotive racing down the track. The XJR-9 designation later became known as the XJR-12 to specify the V12 onboard.

The historic race car will be shown at the Amelia Island RM Auctions and is scheduled to cross the auction block on March 14, 2015. The coast of Northeast Florida is a perfect venue to feel the warm sun, but the auction block will heat up even more as the bids start flying. It may take some cold steel nerves to outbid the competition and win this historic race car. Don’t fear if you miss it, there are over 80 cars scheduled to go on sale during the March 2015 auction. The pre-auction estimates have this car listed at $3 million, but who knows what will happen when the bids begin flying.

Auction results in 2014 topped $35 million and records are set every year at this annual event. Held at the Ritz-Carlton at Amelia Island, Florida and is sure to be even better than last year. If you are interested in attending or bidding, you better get registered now. Contact them at [email protected] or 1-519-352-4575.

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