The Jaguar D-Type of the mid-1950s, easily one of the most beautiful metal skins ever wrapped around four wheels and a frame, is back. Jaguar is building 25 brand new 2018 D-Types, exactly as they were made over 60 years ago, for some very lucky and wealthy customers.
The Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works shop, quickly starting to look like one of the coolest places to be in the automotive industry, is doing this short run of D-Types entirely in period-correct style to make good on on the company’s intention to build 100 examples in the first place.
Apparently only 75 D-Types were ever actually built, despite the car having won Le Mans 24 Hours race three times between 1955 and ’57. Production constraints? Weak demand? Perhaps both, and more. But it doesn’t matter now because we’re going to get a new batch, and, wow.
Jaguar is promising that the 2018 D-Types, which I still can’t believe I’m writing, will be built exactly as they would have been in the ’50s, down to the six-cylinder XK engine, leather straps, skinny tires, and not a single LED in sight.
Those who have the means to order one will be able to pick either the 1955-style Shortnose or 1956-style Longnose body. Jaguar is not listing an MSRP, and one of its representatives told me “every car will be a little different” so pricing will range. But they did add: “Previous continuations from Jaguar Classic have typically cost in excess of £1 million each” which is around $1.4 million.
I would expect all 25 of the 2018 Jaguar D-Types to run north of seven figures, meaning there will probably not be a lavish press trip for me to go whip this thing on some wild mountain road between coffee shops. But still, I’m glad it’s going to exist.
Now here’s hoping the folks who buy these actually put them to work rather than just putting them on display.