Lot 254 - 1985 12947 D-Type Recreation

The 190 mph technical masterpiece, the Jaguar D-Type, has a special place within motoring history. It was built for a specific purpose; that being a Le Mans racing car. If a manufacturer succeeded at Le Mans, it meant success in the world markets and Jaguar succeeded with three wins in a row at Le Mans in 1955, 1956 and 1957. The original D-Types being are now much beyond the pocket of most and this has led to an industry for replica D-Types being manufactured with many choices of engines and gearboxes.

The D-Type offered today is a short nose recreation built and developed as a race car and campaigned with much success securing 13 outright wins. Originally built as a RAM LM D-Type, the car was reconstructed three times, each time becoming lighter and faster with this final version being a completely bespoke D-Type weighing in at approximately 965 kgs. The centre section tub, doors and fin have been hand formed in aluminium with the rest of the bodywork, including the bonnet made in glass fibre. The technical specification is huge with five files of drawings, technical data and invoices included. Power is supplied by a race tuned, 4.2 big valve head, 3.8 litre Jaguar engine fuelled by Triple Weber carburettors. Fuel is carried within an aluminium foam filled fuel tank at the rear. Sparks are provided via a Lumenition programmable ignition system. The engine is mated to a GETRAG five speed gearbox with a Cambridge Motorsport race clutch with the final drive via a Jaguar 3.5:4 Power Lok differential with uprated drive shafts. An adjustable bias braking system has Hi-Spec Monster RR four pot calipers at the front and Superlite calipers to the rear. The handling is aided by uprated wishbones and AVO coil over shock absorbers (aluminium lightweight) and springs.

This D-Type is UK registered and has had SVA approval in 2000. Importantly it is recorded on the V5 registration document as a RAM Kit LM D-Type however, it is currently in race trim with a race seat and it does not have a functioning handbrake. Works are therefore required to put it back to road format. An interior set of seat trims comes with the car so two occupants may be re-instated for road use. Note - the passenger area is covered by an aluminium tonneau when in single seat trim. A road clutch and engine oil sump is also included in the sale (it is recommended that the race sump is not used for road use).

This massively specified D-Type bespoke recreation certainly looks the part. Finished in black and sitting on Dunlop style alloy wheels with new road tyres, the D-Type has a definite period feel to it and with prices of the originals fetching stratospheric prices; this must represent an ideal opportunity for the true Jaguar enthusiasts especially given the build costs in relation to the low estimate.