Jaguar builds its first D-type in more than 60 years

Sixty-two years after the last D-type was built, Jaguar has restarted production for a limited run of one of its most competitive cars. In total, Warwickshire-based Jaguar Classic will hand build 25 D-types as continuation cars.

Original plans for D-type production in 1955 show 100 were intended to be built – but only 75 cars were completed. The D-type, which won the Le Mans 24 Hours race three times between 1955 and 1957, was powered by the six-cylinder XK engine. Every aspect of the D-types built for clients from 2018 will be created to authentic, original specification.

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 a once-in-a-lifetime projects that our world-class experts at Jaguar Land Rover Classic are proud to fulfil.’

The D-type is the third continuation vehicle from Jaguar Classic, which began with building the six missing Lightweight E-types in 2014-15 and nine XKSSs in 2017-18.

With exclusive access to original Jaguar engineering drawings and records, each new D-type will be built to the original specifications laid down by competitions’ manager Lofty England in the 1950s.

D-type clients can choose either 1955-specification 'shortnose' or 1956-spec 'longnose' bodywork. If you want one, you’ll have to be quick as many of them have already been sold. No price has been revealed, but previous continuation models have sold for more than £1m each.

The engineering prototype is the 1956 Longnose specification, identifiable by its extended bonnet, characteristic tail fin behind the driver’s head, wide-angle cylinder head and quick-change brake calipers.