I think what i will say has allready been covered above but here's my take on what happened.
The 5000 cars is just the number of cars that had to be built in order for the base car to compete.
There were dubious doubts that 5000 Jag XJS were ever built in a year, but easily the american market would have sold 5000 240 Turbo's be it in 242 or 244 body shell.
Regarding the 500 figure.
I quote this source.
After production of the 500 cars and subsquent homologation (with close inspection of 23 cars), the other 477 cars were robbed of their competition equipment and sold as standard 240 turbo roadcars. Not illegal by any means, but it left a bad taste in the mouth of their competitors. The FISA reacted in July, after trying to buy an Evolution car in a few European countries (which failed): Volvo had to release the names of the 500 owners of the evolution cars. Volvo didn't react, so the "evolution" homologation would end on September 1, 1985. Later (after the factory holiday!) Volvo could manage to reveal a few evolution cars in Sweden, so the ban was lifted.
So I belive Volvo released what was known as 500 Flathood cars as a marketing exercise and to cover there tracks. Perhaps these included the 477 that were robbed of there parts.
Where the 23 that were inspected are i believe they went back to europe and were some of the cars that volvo released to FISA.
I find it very doubtfull that Volvo would have released 500 EVO cars for sale in american that were tied into a European Touring Car Championship.
Is there any sales literature from the time that shows Volvo's efforts in this championship??
Was Volvo's advertising of the time comparing them to other cars showing how fast they were??
The Championships were later dominated by the Sierra Cosworth, as Ford did make the RS500 Evo Model with Large Turbo, 8 Injectors (4unplugged), the rear wing. They knew it was a good marketing ploy and had no trouble selling these specials over the Regular cosworth. As Ford enthusiast deemed that a limted run would be more valuable in later years.
In europe apparantley we didnt have 240 turbo's, if we had then volvo could have probably sold these 500 to us and we would have bought them, But back then Volvo's marketing policy was about safe durable Luxury cars. And the reason people bought them was of this, not for there sporty nature.
I don't think in all my time have i seen and Advertising info here that said, buy volvo winners of the ETCC. Please prove me wrong.
It was only with the release of the 850 cars did volvo see advertising linked to racing as a major marketing ploy and it certainly helped with the sales of the car.
Anyway thats all i have to offer on the subject. Unless someone can get a time machine and go back to when those 23 cars were inspected and then track there movements, it will allways be open to dispute.
