A Rare Find on Facebook Marketplace: A Winning 1990 Jaguar XJR-15
I’ve encountered some unusual items on Facebook Marketplace in the past, like a local seller offering caught fish and another listing built chicken coops. Some used clothing postings, frankly, should never be resold. However, one listing recently caught my attention as particularly peculiar—for both its uniqueness and its lofty price tag: a 1990 Jaguar XJR-15, specifically one that triumphed in a Monaco race, listed at $1,750,000.
The Choice of Platform
Placing such a prestigious and high-priced racing car on Facebook Marketplace seems unconventional. Typically, vehicles of this caliber are auctioned at upscale events frequented by wealthy patrons. Instead, this nearly $2 million race car appears alongside ads for a broken Land Rover Discovery II and some seasoned firewood. However, considering the car’s own uniqueness, the Marketplace could be a fitting venue.
A Brief History of the Jaguar XJR-15
In the late 1980s, Tom Walkinshaw, head of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), envisioned creating a street-legal version of the Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9 prototype. He enlisted the help of Peter Stevens, a British designer known for his work on the 1989 Lotus Elan and the McLaren F1. Development began in 1989 and by 1991, the XJR-15 was available to a select group of affluent clients, including the Sultan of Brunei. While it wasn’t an official Jaguar model, it was crafted by Jaguar Sport, a joint venture between Jaguar Cars and TWR.
Racing Aspirations
A total of 16 XJR-15s were manufactured for the 1991 Jaguar Sport Intercontinental Challenge, a series designed to showcase these supercars alongside Formula 1 races. The challenge included events at Monaco, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps, where the winner of the final race could earn a $1 million prize. Each car’s sale price was also set at $1 million, and many owners hired professional drivers in hopes of recouping their investment—an amusing fact about the final race at Spa was that organizers kept the total laps hidden from participants to discourage any unfair tactics regarding the hefty cash reward.
About the Featured Car
The vehicle currently up for sale is notable for having secured victory in the Monaco event, driven by British racer Derek Warwick. This specific XJR-15 features a 7.0-liter engine—unlike its counterparts that were fitted with a 6.0-liter Jaguar V12. Buyers had the option of either a six-speed unsynchronized manual transmission or a synchronized five-speed manual. Most models produced 450 horsepower, though the actual output of this 7.0-liter version remains uncertain. Regardless, its sound is reportedly impressive.
A Pricey Offer
For those with $1,750,000 to spare—considerably more than what an XJR-15 fetched at auction in Amelia Island last year—this could be your chance at owning a collector’s item or a personal track vehicle. If interested, don’t forget the customary message for sellers on Marketplace: “Is this still available? Does it run well? Can I pay with Venmo?”
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