2000 Jaguar XKR Silverstone

36 Bids
9:01 PM, 23 Apr 2021Vehicle sold
Sold for

£11,000

Background

Did the car enthusiast ever really fall in love with the Jaguar XJ-S? Following on from the breathtakingly gorgeous E-Type, it was neither stunning to look at or especially thrilling to drive. It soldiered on for far too long.

In March 1996, all this was about to change as Jaguar introduced the world to its stunning XK8 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was the company’s first eight-cylinder model since the Daimler 250.

The XK8 shared its platform with none other than the Aston Martin DB7 and was the creation of design director Geoff Lawson. Available as a coupe or convertible with 2+2 seating, in 1998 a more powerful XKR model was introduced.

Featuring a 370hp engine, with boost from an Eaton supercharger, the Jaguar now had the performance to blow away the opposition.

Interiors were typically Jaguar with the ability to cosset and soothe its occupants. Acres of soft leather, plenty of wood trim and all the bells and whistles you could imagine.

In the run up to the 2000 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Jaguar launched an incredibly special limited edition of the XKR. Named, you guessed it, the XKR Silverstone, it was designed to celebrate Jaguar’s return to Formula 1, with Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine at the wheel.

Just 100 models were built, 50 each in convertible and coupe form with prices starting at £66,785. Expensive, undoubtedly, but somewhat of a bargain compared to rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin.

The Silverstone models were discreetly upgraded with many worthwhile improvements. The chassis and braking system were upgraded by Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations team to include Brembo brakes and a sophisticated computer-controlled suspension system (CATS).

Noticeable exterior enhancements included the fitment of bespoke 20-inch BBS Detroit wheels, shod with grippy Pirelli P Zero rubber.

The already swanky interior saw the addition of leather sports seats and a unique smoke-stained maple veneer fascia.

And just to remind you that you were in something special, Silverstone badges were strategically placed.

The XKR Silverstone’s performance figures still have the power to excite. How about a 0-60mph sprint time of just 5.2 seconds, with top speed limited to 155mph? And with a silky-smooth automatic gearbox, all that considerable firepower is available without effort on behalf of either the car or driver.

Make no mistake, the XKR Silverstone had the ability to thrill the enthusiast driver one minute yet could metamorphosise into a capable cruiser the next. Simply perfect we say!

The XKR Silverstone is a rare and much sought-after limited-edition Jaguar, and we are delighted to be able to offer for sale what is likely to be one of the very best available.

  • SAJKC41N41PA15535
  • 57780km
  • 3996
  • AUTO
  • Silver
  • Charcoal

Background

Did the car enthusiast ever really fall in love with the Jaguar XJ-S? Following on from the breathtakingly gorgeous E-Type, it was neither stunning to look at or especially thrilling to drive. It soldiered on for far too long.

In March 1996, all this was about to change as Jaguar introduced the world to its stunning XK8 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was the company’s first eight-cylinder model since the Daimler 250.

The XK8 shared its platform with none other than the Aston Martin DB7 and was the creation of design director Geoff Lawson. Available as a coupe or convertible with 2+2 seating, in 1998 a more powerful XKR model was introduced.

Featuring a 370hp engine, with boost from an Eaton supercharger, the Jaguar now had the performance to blow away the opposition.

Interiors were typically Jaguar with the ability to cosset and soothe its occupants. Acres of soft leather, plenty of wood trim and all the bells and whistles you could imagine.

In the run up to the 2000 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Jaguar launched an incredibly special limited edition of the XKR. Named, you guessed it, the XKR Silverstone, it was designed to celebrate Jaguar’s return to Formula 1, with Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine at the wheel.

Just 100 models were built, 50 each in convertible and coupe form with prices starting at £66,785. Expensive, undoubtedly, but somewhat of a bargain compared to rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin.

The Silverstone models were discreetly upgraded with many worthwhile improvements. The chassis and braking system were upgraded by Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations team to include Brembo brakes and a sophisticated computer-controlled suspension system (CATS).

Noticeable exterior enhancements included the fitment of bespoke 20-inch BBS Detroit wheels, shod with grippy Pirelli P Zero rubber.

The already swanky interior saw the addition of leather sports seats and a unique smoke-stained maple veneer fascia.

And just to remind you that you were in something special, Silverstone badges were strategically placed.

The XKR Silverstone’s performance figures still have the power to excite. How about a 0-60mph sprint time of just 5.2 seconds, with top speed limited to 155mph? And with a silky-smooth automatic gearbox, all that considerable firepower is available without effort on behalf of either the car or driver.

Make no mistake, the XKR Silverstone had the ability to thrill the enthusiast driver one minute yet could metamorphosise into a capable cruiser the next. Simply perfect we say!

The XKR Silverstone is a rare and much sought-after limited-edition Jaguar, and we are delighted to be able to offer for sale what is likely to be one of the very best available.

Video

Overview

Our XKR Silverstone coupe was built to full UK specification and was dispatched new to Japan where it has been enjoyed until fairly recently. We are told it had just one owner during its time overseas.

Our seller spent much time trying to find a good XKR and had given up looking at UK cars, many of which were riddled with serious corrosion due to the UK’s propensity for salting the roads in winter.

Many of you may already know that the Japanese have developed a far simpler and more car friendly approach to road clearing in winter. They use a system of sprinklers on main roads to blast away the snow. No salt and therefore no nasty corrosion.

This is readily apparent when inspecting our XKR, which looks almost as good as the day it left the factory some twenty years ago.

We would also mention that the car has UK spec satellite navigation and radio, not always the case with cars dispatched overseas. Newly serviced and freshly MOTed in January, this lovely XKR Silverstone is all fired up and ready to go. Wouldn’t it look lovely on your driveway?

Exterior

You can have your XKR Silverstone in…. well silver was the only colour. Take some time and look at the pictures of that lustrous paint finish. Immaculate, unmarked, glimmering…. There are many more superlatives we could have used.

The five-spoke “Detroit” alloys are similarly unmarked and are fitted with the correct Pirelli P Zero tyres. As we never tire of saying, good rubber indicates careful and loving ownership.

Oh, and peeking through those lovely wheels are the Brembo brakes and massive discs, designed to bring this big cat to a halt extremely quickly.

Also do note the lovely boot-mounted Jaguar badge with unique Silverstone lettering. A discreet nod to this very special car.

Interior

A more luxurious and comfortable interior would be hard to find. The leather clad front seats are both cosseting and supportive, essential if you are exploring the car’s performance to the full. They are heated too.

The driving position is near perfect, with plenty of adjustability and the leather clad steering wheel a delight to hold. The gear selector falls easily to hand, ideal if you want to exercise a little control over the gearbox.

Equipment count is high, with a quality sound system and as we have already mentioned a satellite navigation system. It’s not the biggest screen, but it fits nicely into the bespoke wooden dash and doesn’t distract unlike many of today’s offerings.

The driver’s seat shows a little wear on the offside bolster and the central armrest shows signs of use.

There is a small slit on the driver’s door trim, just above the handle and atop the dash on the passenger side, there is a small, patched area.

The rear seats look unmarked, not uncommon as there is very little space back there, so they are generally just used for extra luggage space.

The headlining in unmarked and the carpeting and overmats in good condition.

The wood veneer on the passenger side of the car shows some signs of cracking.

The boot is immaculate, and you will notice the CD autochanger, a standard fitment. The space space-saver spare wheel and tool kit are present and correct.

Mechanical

The engine compartment is certainly full and that powerful V8 engine is a veritable delight to behold. Clean, tidy and with no signs of any leaks, drips or erroneous fluids, it all points to careful maintenance.

There is some crazing to the plastic housing above the radiator, but this is a minor issue.

Anyone buying an older XKR would be well advised to spend plenty of time inspecting the car’s underside for damage and corrosion. We have saved you the trouble – just look at our pictures. A dry climate and salt-free roads have helped keep our Jaguar in excellent condition. A quick wash and brush up is all that is likely to be required.

We would be tempted to apply a little more underseal and most definitely keep the car safely locked away once the council gritters make their usual appearance.

History

The car comes complete with all the original booklets which includes the service book. This shows a reassuringly large number of stamps, but talented as we are, we do not speak Japanese so cannot translate the writing.

Since arriving in the UK, the seller has recently had the car serviced and thoroughly checked over to ensure that it is in top condition. He’s an experienced Jaguar owner so knows what to do.

The car was MOTed for the first time in the UK in January and unsurprisingly it passed with no advisories.

Wanting for nothing, this car is ready to enjoy, and we are told drives as well as it did on the day it left the factory.

Summary

Jaguar has recently announced that it is to be a solely electric car manufacturer by 2025, so gone are the days of fast, elegant coupes with V8 firepower.

The XKR still looks modern today and is more than capable of keeping up with the very latest batch of sports cars but will also gently waft you along the highways and byways if you are that way inclined.

The Silverstone Edition is extremely desirable and without doubt our car is one of the very best.

To become its next lucky owner, we estimate you will need to find between £15,000 and £20,000. A small price for a lot of car!

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

About this auction

Seller

Private: v12vandenplas


Viewings Welcome

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and is strictly by appointment. To book one in the diary, please get in contact.

preview-97CBA9A1-D88B-4B14-9C95-CDA8915B78E3.png?optimizer=image&width=650&quality=90&format=jpg image

Thinking of selling your Jaguar