Group44's Jaguar XJS: Readers Rides:

Group 44 Inc BoB Tullius 1981 Jaguar XJS Sillouette Trans Am Race Car Chassis XJR-4 (only 1 built) 1st Tube Frame Purpose built race car by Group 44 Commisioned by Jaguar to Win the 1981 Trans Am Championship Won Three Trans Am Races Mosport, Portland & Brainerd Finished 2nd in Championship, DNF’s cost Tullius the Championship Then Raced in 1982 Daytona 24hrs by Tullius, Bill Adam & Gorden Smiley Ran IMSA GTX Class with Prototypes as it was deemed too modified for GTO 1st Jaguar V12 to complete a 24 hrs endurance race and signaled Jaguar & Group 44’s Road to Le Mans with the V12 powered XJR-5’s Ran shaved Goodyear Wingfoot street tires for sponsor Goodyear The car was clocked at 193 mph on the banking with street tires! Gorden Smiley was to race XJR-4 in the 1982 Trans Am Series but was tragically killed during practice at the Indy 500. The car was sold by Tullius to Paul Pettey a fellow trans am racer who placed it into retirement and sat in a barn with another Historic Jaguar racer, a D-Type (XKD549) Pettey died tragically in 1997 and the cars were sold off in an Estate Sale, XJR-4 was purchased and restored by SVRA Owner/President Howard Turner. The car was Featured in Classic Motorsports Magazine (May 2005 Issue) In the summer of 2005 the car was bought by Longtime Jaguar Racers Andrew & Steve Moore of Canada. XJR-4 is Raced in Historic Trans Am/ IMSA class with SVRA, HSR, VARAC and was at the 2009 Walter Mitty Historic Races for the Group 44 Reunion! See Added Photos from the Reunion Check out www.historictransamimsa.com

Lof8
July 8, 2008, 2:38 p.m.

Damn cool car!!

Baxter
July 8, 2008, 2:59 p.m.

That odd sound your hearing? It's drool hitting the keyboard.

MiatarPowar
July 8, 2008, 3:23 p.m.

Oh my. That's phenomenal.

pintoautocrosser
July 8, 2008, 9:46 p.m.

Very nice write up on a very unique automobile. I love Vintage cars and the stories they bring to the table!

pinchvalve
July 8, 2008, 10:40 p.m.

OMG!

Luke
July 9, 2008, 5:23 a.m.

That's an absolutely beautiful machine. Very cool indeed!

Volksroddin
July 10, 2008, 6:02 p.m.

a nice short story. Awsome car!!

walterj
July 11, 2008, 12:21 p.m.

Very nice

Stuc
July 17, 2008, 4:34 p.m.

That thing is too cool... even has a cool history!!

amaff
July 24, 2008, 10:26 p.m.

w o w. Beautiful!

EastCoastMojo
Sept. 5, 2008, 10:15 a.m.

The only thing that would make that picture sweeter is if there was an exploding building in the background. Very cool car.

Robertob
Sept. 10, 2008, 6:15 p.m.

sexy. Who knew those could look so good?

gamby
Sept. 27, 2008, 1:36 p.m.

I had no idea a car of this magnitude was in our little community. Awesome. Just awesome.

z31maniac
Oct. 9, 2008, 9:08 a.m.

That is secks. Pure and simple.

96DXCivic
Oct. 11, 2008, 8:52 a.m.

MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jrtech
Oct. 11, 2008, 10:59 p.m.

"that is so cool" yes, I said it aloud.

Duende
Nov. 13, 2008, 9:26 a.m.

Wow. So very awesome.

stereoking15
Nov. 22, 2008, 2:47 a.m.

geat looking car, just fabulous, now that is a proper brithish touring car.

Group44
Dec. 21, 2008, 9:32 a.m.

See & hear the roar of this 6 Litre V12 Monster at the 2009 Walter Mitty Historic Races at Road Atlanta where there will be a Group 44 Reunion Race!

Baxter
Jan. 18, 2009, 3:06 p.m.

Looking forward to seeing this one -- and the other Group 44 cars -- at The Mitty.

jagman
Jan. 20, 2009, 4:42 p.m.

This is one sweet car! As a Jag mechanic I have always wanted to build a modified XJS. I am drooling.

ronbros
Feb. 2, 2009, 6:14 p.m.

few people have heard 12 cylinders at 7000rpm with such long 4" side pipes, deep and fantastic, not the fart sound of many open exhausts.

wherethefmi2000
April 9, 2009, 11:58 p.m.

wow

Group44
April 28, 2009, 7:24 a.m.

We are Mitty Bound, come by the paddock and say hi!

Group44
May 8, 2009, 6:31 p.m.

Thanks to everyone at Classic Motorsports and GRM for putting on an amazing event. I have updated the profile photos with shots from the event alnog with photos of Bob Tullius and his Crew Chief Lanky Fouchee. Next stop for the Big Cat will be the HSR Event at Watkins Glen in June