Jaw-dropping Jaguar D-Type Continuation for sale

Sometimes it can feel like every classic Jaguar lives in the shadow of the E-Type. It’s the roadgoing sports car that all others must aspire to, even those saloons that it shared engines with, and the historic racer of unrivalled pedigree. Its popularity in motorsport to this day continues that mystique. The E-Type is the Jaguar, or so it can seem. 

But there’s an old Jag far more valuable, significant and successful (at least in terms of racing) than the E: the D-Type. Two pretty different sports cars, yes, but the latter was the car that cemented Jaguar’s reputation as one of the best sportscar manufacturers in the world during the middle part of the 20th century. The D-Type’s design was innovative (and highly effective), plus the use of disc brakes with the tech still in its infancy gave the Jag a big advantage over its competitors. 

That you’ll know, most likely, because there are few cars as recognisable as a D-Type and an equally small number with such a storied motorsport career. It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row from 1955 to 1957, and in the final year of dominance, there were five D-Types in the top six. It was quite simply the class of its field. Almost a decade ago, a D-Type made £15m at auction – no E-Type is ever going to do that. 

It wasn’t long after that stunning auction result that Jaguar announced the D-Type Continuation cars, a run of 25 to account for those not built in the period because of the Browns Lane Fire. (The original plan was for 100, and 75 were made in the 50s.) They would be assembled by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Coventry, building on the experience of the similar XKSS and E-Type projects; Continuation buyers would be able to choose from either the 1955 Short Nose or 1956 Long Nose spec, plus whichever colour took their fancy. And that was kind of that; the D-Type Continuation was announced at Retromobile back in February 2018, it’s easy to imagine all 25 were allocated at the show, and they probably all enjoy pampered lives in collections across the globe. 

Only now there’s a chance to own one. This Continuation, a 2019 build (which definitely looks a bit strange next to images of a D-Type), is for sale at Hilton and Moss in Essex. It’s road registered in the UK and has covered just 500 miles with one ‘meticulous’ owner since new. This one is to ‘56 Long Nose spec, with Pastel Blue paint and Old English White ‘lipstick’ on the front. Apparently, the interior is ‘Aged Tan’, which looks fabulous – best ensure your driving gloves match. 

Of course, the whole thing is utterly glorious, really, because it’s a barely used example of a sportscar racing icon built to exacting standards. While it promises to be a truly unforgettable experience wherever it’s used next, it only feels right for the D-Type to find its way back on track at some point. It was designed to race, after all, and its reputation was forged on circuit. Let’s hope whatever the colossal asking price is for this one doesn’t curtail that enthusiasm too much…