Jaguar has built its first “new” D-Type racing car in more than 60 years. A run of 25 cars will be meticulously hand-built at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Warwickshire, UK, with short-nose and long-nose bodywork derivatives created according to client preference. The first of these new D-Types, an engineering prototype built to 1956 long-nose specification (above, photo courtesy of Jaguar Classic), was unveiled at Salon Retromobile in Paris today, February 7.
In 1955 Jaguar planned to build 100 D-Type models, but with only 75 ever completed, Jaguar Classic is now fulfilling the company’s original ambition by creating 25 all-new, period-correct sports cars.
The Jaguar D-Type, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955, 1956 and 1957, was powered by the six-cylinder XK engine, and every aspect of the D-Type models built for clients from 2018 will be created to authentic, original specification.
“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,” explained Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic Director. “The opportunity to continue the D-Type model’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.”
The D-Type is the third continuation vehicle from Jaguar Classic, complementing the six missing Lightweight E-Type models completed in 2014-’15, and the nine XKSS models built in 2017-’18. Customer enquiries for Jaguar Classic vehicles should be made by emailing info@classic.jaguar.co.uk
