The 1955 Jaguar D-Type is a legendary sports car that is considered one of the most beautiful and successful racing cars of all time. It was designed by Malcolm Sayer and built by Jaguar Cars of Coventry, England. The D-Type was powered by a 3.4-litre, straight-six engine that produced 250 horsepower. It had a top speed of 180 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. And now, thanks to R.M Sotheby’s, you can get your hands on one.

The D-Type made its racing debut at the 1954 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it finished second overall. The following year, it won the race outright, followed by another victory in 1956. The D-Type also won the 1955 Tourist Trophy and the 1956 Sebring 12 Hours.

In total, Jaguar built 55 D-Types. Of those, 43 were raced and 12 were sold to private owners. The D-Type is now considered one of the most valuable classic cars in the world. In 2016, a 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for $21.7 million at auction, setting a new record for a British car.

Some of the stand-out features of this lot from R.M Sotheby’s include:

• One of 54 production examples built
• Raced in period at Southeastern US events
• Restored by marque specialists during the 1990s
• Desirably equipped with rebuilt 3.8-litre replacement engine with the wide-angle cylinder head
• Benefits from 21 years of fastidious care under current ownership
• The handsome colour combination of British Racing Green over black
• Beautifully presented example of Coventry’s three-time Le Mans-winning legend

This wonderfully well-presented D-Type is offered with the original front and rear body elements, which will appeal to the future caretaker seeking to steward an important car to a more original state. It comes with a JDHT heritage certificate, FIA HTP, and an invoice ledger reflecting work performed under current ownership, this exemplary Jaguar presents with characteristic flair, offering marque enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire a Coventry legend.