1955 Jaguar D Type 3.8L

Andy Wallace, Jaguar D Type, Le Mans Jaguar Classic Challenge 2016.

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Jaguar, Coventry, England.  The D Type is perhaps the most iconic sports racing car of all time.  It had a trio of Le Mans 24 hours victories in 1955, 1956 and 1957.  The car above is restored from part of the winning 1955 car that was driven by Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb in that very tragic race that cost 84 people their lives.  The D type was the first monocoque construction Jaguar and had a very aerodynamic shape conceived by Malcolm Sayer.   The first cars raced with 3.4 litre Jaguar XK V6 engines.  At other times they raced with 2.5 litre, 3.8 litre or 3.0 litre Jaguar XK V6 engines.  The first race for the D Type was the 1954 Le Mans 24 hours where it finished a close second.  The first victory was at Rheims in the 12 hour race a month afterwards driven by Whitehead and Wharton.   These early cars were achieved in the short nose cars.  For 1955 the long nose car appeared on the factory cars with production versions retaining the short nose.  Over sixty D types were made in all.   The works cars disappeared from the racing scene after 1956 but private teams like Ecurie Ecosse continued.  The ex works Ecurie Ecosses cars won Le Mans in 1956 and 1957.