Up To €6.5 Million Could Be The Asking Price For This Jaguar D-Type

The legendary Jaguar D-Type, one of the most valuable racing cars in history, is going up for auction soon and is expected to fetch up to 6.5 million euros. It is an extremely rare example that has never raced and has spent the last 31 years in the possession of a collector in Switzerland

The Jaguar D-Type is a true racing icon, produced between 1954 and 1957 with one goal in mind: to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It achieved this goal three times in a row—in 1955, 1956, and 1957. Only 71 examples were produced, making it highly sought after by collectors.

The specific example bears the chassis number XKD 551 and was sold to its first owner in October 1957. He decided to adapt it for road use, which included installing a passenger door and windshield and removing the distinctive center bulkhead. The car changed hands in 1963, later ending up in the hands of Australian F1 driver Paul Hawkins.

During the 1970s, all road-going modifications were removed, returning the car to its original racing specification. The original straight-six engine was removed for preservation and replaced with a different unit.

This D-Type has been owned by the same person from Switzerland since 1994 and has spent most of its time garaged. It is important to note that the original engine was fully restored in 2005 and recently returned to the car, which is now back in its original condition and suitable for historic racing.

The sale is being conducted by Broad Arrow Auctions, which says the car is ready to compete in prestigious historic races such as the Goodwood Revival, Mille Miglia Storica, Le Mans Classic, and Monaco Historic Grand Prix. The auction will take place in Switzerland and is estimated to fetch between 5.25 and 6.25 million Swiss francs, which is approximately 5.5 to 6.5 million euros.

For comparison, the most expensive D-Type ever sold was the winning car from the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, which fetched a whopping €20 million in 2016. Given the passage of time, its value is surely even higher today.

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