Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Lands Historic IMSA GT Racer
Jim & Mary Rogers’ donated IMSA GT competitor joins the Philadelphia museum’s collection of significant sports & racing cars…
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum recently acquired a 1987 Jaguar XJR-7 donated by Jim Rogers of Vero Beach, Florida. The car joins the Philadelphia museum’s collection of significant sports and racing cars.
The XJR-7 was developed by Group 44, the American racing team led by Bob Tullius, for competition in the IMSA GT Championship. One of very few examples built, chassis XJR-7/001 is the first of the model and carries a distinguished competition record.
Powered by a 7.0L Jaguar V-12 producing 720 hp and clothed in the distinctive white, green and gold Group 44 livery, the car debuted with a fourth-place finish at the 1985 Daytona 3 Hours. It went on to race across multiple IMSA seasons in the hands of Hurley Haywood, Brian Redman and John Morton, according to a press release, and delivered what would prove to be Group 44’s final victory at the West Palm Beach 3 Hours.
A Real Racer
The car made its last competitive appearance at the 1988 Daytona 24 Hours before being sold to the Rogers in 1992.
“XJR-7/001 was the culmination of three decades of racing excellence by Group 44 and Bob Tullius,” said Harry Hurst, the Simeone Museum’s director of programs. “It was the fastest, most powerful and most sophisticated car the small group had ever produced and competed successfully against the likes of the Porsche 962 and Nissan GTP. After it was retired, Tullius valued XJR-7/001 so much that he kept it in pristine running order and only sold it reluctantly to a Rogers.”
The Jaguar joins more than 70 vehicles at the museum including a 1966 Ford GT40 MkII, a 1970 Porsche 917 LH and a 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR as examples of cars that shaped the history of endurance racing.
“This car is a remarkable addition to the collection,” said Kevin Kelly, executive director of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. “The XJR-7 embodies the spirit of competition that has defined this museum since its founding. It tells the story of American ingenuity applied to one of motorsport’s most demanding challenges.”
