Never-raced Jaguar D-Type up for sale
An unraced Jaguar D-Type is set to send bidders into a frenzy when it leads Broad Arrow Auctions’ Zürich sale on 1st November, crossing the block for an estimated £5-6million. The car is one of just 71 legendary machines built by Jaguar.
Jaguar built the D-Type specifically to win at Le Mans, which it did for three consecutive years from 1955-‘57, making it almost unheard of to find a car like this one, bereft of competition history.
Not only has the car never seen a circuit, it also sounds like it has been meticulously maintained. The matching numbers racer had its original engine removed for preservation, with a correct-spec motor fitted in its place. The original was rebuilt in 2005 and stored for two decades, although it has since been returned to the car.
Extensive work was carried out on the brakes in 2024, with receipts for nearly £26,000 to go with it, and the car had also been serviced by Swiss specialists Graber Sportgarage in preparation for the sale.
This D-Type comes with a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate and a forthcoming CKL report verifying its authenticity, and has been owned by the same person for more than three decades.
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Sold to its first owner in 1957, the car was converted to semi-XKSS specification, removing the central bulkhead and adding a passenger door, as well as fitting a full-width windscreen. The vehicle was returned to its original configuration in the 1970s.
Before arriving at its current home, the car was owned by the likes of James Dawnay, who owned and raced an Aston Martin DBR1/1, and former Australian Formula 1 driver Paul Hawkins. It was bought by its current owners in 1994.
Paul Gaucher, Head of Consignments for Switzerland at Broad Arrow Auctions, said: “The excitement is building ahead of our inaugural Zürich Auction. The addition of this truly superb example of the iconic Jaguar D-Type will undoubtedly add to that excitement among international car collectors. There is plenty more to come, and we can’t wait to share additional news on the highly desirable models that will be joining the catalogue soon.”