Description
The Jaguar XKSS occupies a distinctive place in Jaguar history. It was not conceived as a conventional road car, but as a pragmatic solution to a small stock of unsold D-Types following Jaguar’s withdrawal from racing after the 1956 season. By removing the tail fin and adding weather equipment such as aerodynamic full-width windscreen, hood, side screens and even doors! Jaguar created a compelling road-going derivative of its most successful competition car. The target market for the XK “SuperSport was the USA as it was assumed it would be allowed to participate in SCCA Production Sports Car racing where the D-type had not previously been accepted.
Background
Plans were to modify the remaining 25 D-types and then build a further run of cars in due course. Unfortunately, the major fire at the Browns Lane factory in February 1957 resulted in only 16 cars surviving the inferno that also took out the special tooling developed for the D-type, thus precluding any further cars being built at the time. Hence, the XKSS became one of the most coveted Jaguars of all time, famed for owner Steve McQueen who fondly named his car “the Green Rat”, these cars are now the corner stone for the world’s greatest collections. It is reported that it was McQueen’s favourite car which he kept until his death, mainly because he could easily outrun the California Highway patrol.
The original 16 cars were eventually followed by 9 official continuation cars built during 2016-17 to replace the cars destroyed in the fire of 1957. These were priced at over £1 million and sold immediately upon release, there clearly weren’t enough to go around.
Long before Jaguar Classic built the final 9 chassis, there was always a gap in the market. Lynx saw this and on the back of the repair and restoration work on genuine C-type and D-type models became the foremost Jaguar continuation specialists. Founded in 1968 by Guy Black and Roger Ludgate, they made an illustrious name for themselves, leaving a their own ‘marque’ in the history books for recreating their toolroom cars, trusted for their technical accuracy and build quality. Even undertaking work on Jaguar’s own heritage fleet.
Chassis History and Competition Use
This car was completed at the Lynx East Sussex factory in 1979 as a long-nose D-Type finished in Ecurie Ecosse Flag Blue. As with all the Lynx D-types, it is based on an E-type which in turn was the logical evolution of the D-type chassis/ drive train. Supplied initially to a Scottish owner, it returned to Lynx in 1989 for bonnet repairs before being exported to the United States. Then based in Florida, it was actively campaigned, developing its own period competition history, receiving upgrades including a 3. 8-litre engine and larger brakes. Period photographs and factory correspondence remain with the car, documenting this phase of its life.
Rebuild to XKSS Specification
Following its return to the UK in 2020, the car was entrusted to Jerry Booen of D-Type Developments for restoration, where it was rebuilt with a new brief to re-imagine it as a XKSS employing the same process that Jaguar followed in 1957. Finished in Sherwood Green with tan leather trim, this colour combination mirrors the 2016 launch Jaguar XKSS continuation car. Independent rear suspension, inherited from the E-Type platform, makes the car notably more tractable and comfortable on the road than an original D-Type layout, without diluting the character.
Usability, Context and Ownership
Unlike the £1. 7m Jaguar XKSS continuation cars of 2016-17, this Lynx offers its own layered history, from early Lynx D-Type form through US competition use to its current immaculate XKSS configuration. It is a car intended to be driven and enjoyed, whether on the road, tours or as part of a collection. For further information or to discuss viewing arrangements, worldwide sale and shipping can be arraigned. Please contact Tom Hardman personally.
