25 brand-new Jaguar D-types will be produced following Jaguar Classic’s announcement that it will restart production of the three-time Le Mans winner. The first example will be displayed at the Salon Retromobile in Paris on February 7.
Customers buying the new D-types will choose between the original 1955-spec shortnose body, or the 1956-spec longnose – which we will see in Paris – otherwise they’ll be little in the way of options available on the cars. In keeping with original plans, power will come from a 3.4-litre straight-six that develops 245bhp and 242lb ft of torque.
The D-type represented the cutting-edge of motosport technology back in the 50s. It was the first car constructed with a monocoque tub and subframes to form the chassis, to which the independent front suspension and disc brakes were secured.
Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic Engineering Manager said, ‘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’.
This article originally appeared at evo.co.uk
