Jaguar D-Type (2019)

1953 marked the second victory at the Le Mans 24 hours in three years for Jaguar and the C-type. With so many lessons learned and competition hotting up, an all new car was needed to help keep them at the front of the grid. From these learnings, the D-type was born. Retaining the 3.5 litre XK engine from the C-type, the car now sported an aeronautical-inspired, magnesium-alloy central monocoque tub, an aluminium spaceframe and all-round Dunlop disc brakes.

The D-type was created in time for Le Mans 1954 with Jaguar fielding three cars in the race. Unfortunately, all developed misfire-related issues causing both retirement and extensive setbacks. 1955 however brought success with Jaguar achieving 1st and 3rd. Victory continued for the next two consecutive years, with 1st,4th and 6th in 1956 and 1st,2nd, 3rd,4th and 6th in 1957 respectively, albeit by privateer teams. Further to Jaguar's temporary retiring from competitive motorsport at the end of the 1956 season, and able to exploit demand for high-powered European sports cars at the time, some of the remaining part- built cars were to be converted for road car use. Jaguar had planned to build 100 examples of the now legendary D-Type, although only 75 were completed. With its competitive successes tailing off, production was halted to make way for the conversion of cars to the XKSS, meeting full road-going homologation with its full-length windscreen amongst other additions.

62 years after the end of production, Jaguar started build on the final 25 cars. With a wealth of knowledge accumulated from racing and restoring Jaguars, DK Engineering was proud to handle the sale and subsequent specification of 1 of these 25 cars.

Together with the customer, DK explored a number of different options keen to work with traditional colour combinations to deliver a stunning road car.

Completed in the tail end of 2019, this example is finished in Ecurie Ecosse Blue over House of Lords Distressed Red leather. This example was built as a short-nose car with a fin, but was specified with all the parts to accommodate a full long-nose conversion, including the bonnet which accompanies the car, as per one of the period Ecosse cars specification.

Over the course of the build, DK handled the factory visits and documented the build process for the new owner.