D-Type to be Offered by Broad Arrow Auctions
Broad Arrow‘s next auction, Passion for the Drive: The Cars of Jim Taylor is quickly approaching. The collection will be offered almost entirely without reserve – the only exception is the 1955 Jaguar D-Type. It is one of, if not the nicest example of a D-Type that survives to this day and is still equipped with its original engine.
Jaguar D-Type - Dominant on the Track
Jaguar’s D-Type was well known in its day as a Ferrari-beating race car, taking victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans among many other events. A regulation change was required to stop the D-Type from continuing to dominate Le Mans! Of the top six placed cars to finish the race in 1957, five of them were D-Types taking both the victory and second place. In total, Jaguar D-Types won Le Mans three years running starting in 1955.
The D-Type to be offered from Jim Taylor’s collection is one of about 60 examples and sports the “short nose” body, finished in “Special Blue.” It was raced, although not as extensively as many other examples and was actually used as a road car by its first owner.
As recently as 1972 this D-Type, chassis XKD 515, was reported to show only 14,000 original miles. The car was restored by Ardua Engineering prior to its sale in 2000 to John McCaw, a well known vintage race car enthusiast. The car changed hands once more that we know of prior to its acquisition by Mr. Taylor.
After purchasing the D-Type in 2005, Jim Taylor was able to actually obtain its original British registration plate – RRU 1 – which it still displays to this day. A rarity for classic race cars, XKD 515 was driven with care as a road-going car, rather than the track-going ways of so many of its siblings.
The originality of this car cannot be overstated – the factory sheet metal, gauges, and even components such as the radiator and fuel lines under the hood are still original. It has been used by Mr. Taylor on a number of Jaguar rallies. Jaguar engineer and test driver Norman Dewis – known for working with Dunlop to develop the disc brake on a C-Type – signed the chassis plate that sits in the engine compartment.
It is accompanied by its original wheels with original Dunlop racing tires, though it now rides on new Dunlop knock-off wheels, although the original spare is still present. We expect this D-Type to get a huge amount of attention from Jaguar enthusiasts as the Passion for the Drive auction approaches. Its mileage was recorded at just 21,584 when it was cataloged by Broad Arrow Auctions.
Simply put, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see another D-Type with as much originality at any auction moving forward and we eagerly await the Passion for the Drive: The Cars of Jim Taylor which will start October 14.