Jaguar is re-commencing production of the D-type race car, more than half a century later. The legendary race car follows earlier vintage race cars reproduced from the Jaguar stable.
Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works is an outfit owned by JLR based in Warwickshire, England. Backed up by JLR's original and authentic data, this workshop produces rather special cars. You see, Jaguar Classic is doing a noble cause: bringing back lost exotic cars. Such automobiles from the British carmaker's history whose production had to be halted or those that went missing, these the workshop is committed to rebuilding
The Jaguar D-type won the grueling Le Mans race three consecutive times between 1955 and 1957. Powered by a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine from an XK that produced 250 hp, the car not only packed a punch, it looked elegant. No surprise then, that it was labeled the most beautiful race car of all time. Jaguar could only build 75 of these fine looking machines, after which production had to be ceased in 1956. 62 years later, Jaguar Classic has taken up the mantle to produce 25 more D-Types. Every detail of the car will be authentic and true to original specifications, down to the last rivet.
Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic Director, said: “The Jaguar D-type is one of the most iconic and beautiful competition cars of all time, with an outstanding record in the world's toughest motor races. And it's just as spectacular today. The opportunity to continue the D-type's success story, by completing its planned production run in Coventry, is one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects that our world-class experts at Jaguar Land Rover Classic are proud to fulfill.”
Jaguar Classic builds each car meticulously. With thorough research and access to original Jaguar engineering drawings and records, each car that leaves the workshop is exactly as it would have left the factory way back in 1956. With this car, Jaguar Classic is fulfilling a long time ambition shared by people across time, such as Competitions Manager Lofty England and his engineers, who built the 75 D-Types of the fifties.
The Jaguar D-type is the third product out of the company's Warwickshire facility, following the equally legendary E-type Lightweight of which six were missing, and the XKSS of which nine could not be built. Clients of the 2018 (Or 1956?) Jaguar D-Type can spec their car in 155 Shortnose or 1956 Longnose form.
