1957 Jaguar XKSS Re-Creation

1957 JAGUAR XKSS (RE-CREATION). #1L2200BW.

(Stock #4371.) Only 16 of the original XKSS Roadsters were built by the Jaguar factory during the period after the original D-Type race cars were built (67 units). 25 of the original D-Type race cars were left unsold, so Jaguar converted 16 of those cars with lightly disguised street equipment and they became the now famous XKSS. The remaining 9 cars remained at the unfinished factory and were destroyed by a huge fire. Decades later, after the 16 original cars became enormously popular, and valuable of course, Jaguar completed the remaining 9 cars as "factory cars" which were sold for over $1 million each and trade today at multiple 7 figure prices. All of those 25 cars, even though built at different times, are in fact genuine Jaguar factory XKSS Roadsters.As is common, many replicas, tributes and continuations of important cars were recreated many decades later.

This particular re-creation was one of a series created in the early 90's to encourage participation in "vintage racing of historically important race cars with a hope by the promoter, John Arnold of Revival Motorsport, to attract multiple participants for a long-running Jaguar racing series. Although those cars sold well, they did not generate a full field often enough, and thus the series lasted only 3 years. They were built to be a close and faithful representation of the original D-Types. Powered by a Jaguar XK straight-6 4.2L engine with 450 COE Weber Carbs and driving through a 5-speed manual gearbox to an LSD rear differential. Unlike the original cars these have an IRS rear axle to improve handling, and disc brakes all around. The cars were built on the Reynard racing chassis and were built for racing; few had creature comforts so when the series closed down, this chassis was treated to a full restoration and the modifications for it to become the XKSS it is today. The Race Series ran at all Major Race Circuits in the UK in the early nineties. This car is Fully Road Legal. So, with a little British racing history, and very good bones, this marvelous example allows it to be driven with gusto on the street or on the track without fear of damaging an eight-figure supercar. This car was one of a batch of cars with the full knowledge of Jaguar.  Price $165,000.