Jaguar Land Rover has been tapping into their
archives and reviving a handful of iconic models and the latest to be
resurrected is the legendary D-Type. While the last D-Type was built nearly 62
years ago, Jaguar Classic will resume production shortly and the first model,
an engineering prototype, will be unveiled tomorrow at the Salon Retromobile in
Paris.
The D-Type isn’t as celebrated as the E-Type but the
model secured its place in history by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955,
1956, and 1957. Jaguar says every aspect of the car will be authentic to its
original specifications and this apparently includes the six-cylinder XK
engine.
Customers who order the car can select between
either the 1955 Shortnose specification or the 1956 Longnose variant. The
engineering prototype represents the latter model and Jaguar says it is easily
identified by its extended hood, quick-change brake calipers, and tailfin.
Production will be limited to 25 units as Jaguar
originally had plans to build 100 D-Types. Only 75 units were built so the
company is making good on its promise six decades later.
In a statement, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director
Tim Hannig 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. The opportunity to continue the D-Type’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.”
Jaguar hasn’t revealed how much but the D-Type will
cost but it is already accepting customer enquiries.
