‘New’ Jaguar D-Types to be built by Jaguar Classic

Jaguar has announced it is bringing back the D-Type, but not as a new model.

Production of the iconic British race car will resume for a limited run of 25 units, which Jaguar Land Rover’s Classic Works department will build at its Warwickshire factory.

In fact, Jaguar has already built one.

The plan to build 25 new D-Types means Jaguar will fulfil the original plan from 1955, in which Jaguar wished to build 100. Only 75 were completed.

Of the 25 new cars, buyers can request they be built in either a 1955 Shortnose or 1956 Longnose specification.

If the cars are perfectly period-correct, both versions will be given the 3.4-litre straight-six engine which helped it win three Le Mans 24 Hours titles.

Director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic Tim Hannig says the cars are an opportunity for Jaguar to continue the D-Type’s story long after it began.

“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. And it’s just as spectacular today,” Hannig says.

“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 fulfil.”

Jaguar Classic has also recently undergone projects in which it built nine period-correct Jaguar XKSSs (the road-going sibling to the D-Type), and six Lightweight E-Types which were ‘missing’.

Engineering manager at Jaguar Classic Kev Riches says the projects helped prepare the team for the D-Type build.

“Recreating the nine D-type-derived XKSSs was hugely satisfying, and an even bigger technical challenge than the six missing Lightweight E-types, but lessons learned from the XKSS project have given us a head start on the final 25 D-types.

“Each one will be absolutely correct, down to the very last detail, just as Jaguar’s Competitions Department intended.”