The Jaguar D-Type, like its predecessor the C-Type, was a factory-built race car.
I’m sure that the Batman theme song circa Adam West is currently playing in your head (should you be an old foggy like myself) and I won’t blame you-retrotastic styling, curvy bodywork complete with wind busting tailfin it does bare some resemblence to the campy Caped Crusader’s vehicle of choice but what you’re looking at is essentially a rich man’s toy- the highly collectible and immensely vintage 1955 Jaguar XKD.
Ralph Lauren’s (Other) Collection
Other than being a hirsute fashion designer, Ralph Lauren had a remarkable eye for industrial beauty. His passion for his other great love– automobiles parlayed into one of the most respectable collections of vintage cars on the planet; among his treasured wheels- the 1955 Jaguar D-type. [Read more at Augustman.com]
As soon as it was introduced to the racing world in 1954, the D-Type was making its presence felt. For the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans the new car was expected to perform well, and perhaps even win. However, the cars were hampered by sand in their fuel.
View the collection at The Art of Automobile exhibition: 28th April – 28th August 2011 at Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Seventeen outstanding cars, chosen by curator Rodolphe Rapetti, and put on display by Jean -Michel Wilmotte, outline the main phases of European automobile history.
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- The Ferrari TR, or 250 Testa Rossa, is a race car model built by Ferrari in the 1950s and 60s. These cars dominated their arenas, with variations winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961. They were closely related to the rest of the Ferrari 250 line, especially the legendary 250 GTO.
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- Considered by some to be the most beautiful pre-war car, the Atlantic body Type 57S featured flowing coupe lines with a pronounced dorsal seam running front to back. It was based on the “Aérolithe” concept car of 1935. Like the Type 59 Grand Prix car, the Aérolithe used Elektron (a magnesium alloy) or Duralumin (an aluminium alloy) for its body panels.
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- After the fault had been diagnosed and the sand removed, the car driven by Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt quickly got back on the pace, finishing less than one lap down on the winning Ferrari.
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- The D-Type was produced by a team, led by Jaguar’s race manager Lofty England, who always had at least one eye on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most prestigious endurance race of the time.
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- As soon as it was introduced to the racing world in 1954, the D-Type was making its presence felt. For the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans the new car was expected to perform well, and perhaps even win. However, the cars were hampered by sand in their fuel.
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- The Jaguar D-Type, like its predecessor the C-Type, was a factory-built race car.
The Monsieur 
Posted on February 24, 2011
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