Modified on January 5, 2021
Jaguar is hoping to make a commercial profit from the great performance of the D-Type in 1954 at Le Mans : second position overall for Hamilton and Rolt and top speed record at 278 Km/h by Moss. In the following year the brand accepts orders from private teams. The improved 'long nose' variant will however remain for the exclusive use of the works team.
A little more than 50 short nosed cars are produced for the trade. After the 1956 season Jaguar observes the saturation of the market and all the chassis remaining in the factory are converted into the road going XKSS limited series. Ecurie Ecosse's victories at Le Mans in 1956 and 1957 do not revert the termination of the D-Type.
Selling it was never easy. A red painted D-Type sent to a dealer in Manchester in December 1955 cannot find a buyer. Returned to London, it finally dazzles a driver who buys it to Bernie Ecclestone acting as a trader. After a significant participation in British races from 1956 to 1958, the car becomes the property of the female driver Jean Bloxham who races it twice.
This D-Type has never been modified or damaged and has even been repainted in its original factory red. Former owners praised its comfort and its ideal handling in heavy rain. It is estimated $ 5.75M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Scottsdale AZ on January 22, 2021, lot 141. It had passed from a much higher estimate at Gooding on January, 19, 2018, lot 55.
SOLD for $ 6M including premium
#HappyHolidays from the #RMSothebys team! Today we're excited to announce the star car of #RMArizona, a 1955 #Jaguar #DType, boasting period competition history, retaining many original components and wearing factory-correct Red over Red. Learn more: https://t.co/hNTv8bXK6P. pic.twitter.com/3CPGI1hN2N
— rmsothebys (@rmsothebys) December 25, 2020