JLR Classic is Building Brand New Jaguar D-Type Continuation Cars

In 2016, Jaguar built nine continuation examples of the famed XKSS. Now, through its new-for-2017 Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works arm, the automaker will be building 25 new examples of the legendary D-Type race on which the XKSS was based.

The first continuation D-Type—an engineering prototype featuring the extended hood, tail fin behind the driver’s head, wide-angle cylinder head, and quick-change brake calipers characteristic of the 1956 Longnose variant—will be shown later this week at Salon Retromobile in Paris, France.

As was the case with the XKSS continuation cars, as well as the six Lightweight E-Types from 2014 and 2015, the new D-Types effectively complete the original plan for the model—in this case, bringing total production up from 75 to the 100 originally planned for in 1955.

All 25 cars will be period correct and “every aspect of the D-Type models built for clients from 2018 will be created to authentic, original specification,” says Jaguar. Given the D-Type’s pedigree—it won Le Mans in 1955, 1956, and 1957—nothing less would be acceptable.

“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,” said Tim Hannig, director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic.

Additionally, Jaguar says that buyers of these continuation D-Types will have the choice of 1955-spec Shortnose bodywork as well as the Longnose spec of the prototype.

Original Jaguar D-Types are some of the most expensive cars to ever cross the auction block—XKD 501, the car that won Le Man in 1955, sold in 2016 for $19.8 million—so expect these continuation D-types to carry a firmly two-comma price tag and be sure to dust off your American Express Centurion card before you submit an inquiry with Jaguar Land Rover Classic.

Source: Jaguar Land Rover

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