1955 Jaguar D Type

1955 Jaguar D-Type
Sold for $3,905,000 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2013
Chassis no. XKD 530
Est. 300 bhp, 3,781 cc dual overhead-camshaft inline six-cylinder engine with three Weber 45DCO3 carburetors, four-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension, live rear axle trailing links and transverse torsion bar, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 90.5 in.

•Extensively documented; multiple in-period 1st place finishes
•Comprehensive restoration in 2003 by noted D-Type expert
•Subject of a five-part feature series in Jaguar World Monthly
•Exhibited at Pebble Beach, Villa d'Este, and Amelia Island
•Vintage racing participation, including the Mille Miglia and Goodwood Revival
•FIVA Passport, FIA papers, and JDHT Certificate


Perhaps no Jaguar model boasts more esteem or respect than the legendary D-Type, which was engineered specifically to win Le Mans. Significantly departing from the prior C-Type's architecture, the D-Type was notable as one of the first monocoque sports racers, as it featured a fabulous aerodynamic body designed by Malcolm Sayer. The model was powered by a development of the C-Type's 3.4-liter inline six-cylinder engine, which was increased to 3.8 liters in later cars.

Debuting at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans, the D-Type finished a narrow 2nd to a 4.9-liter Ferrari V-12, and a year later, it won the race outright with a long-nosed factory body equipped with a revised motor. Jaguar retired from racing after the 1956 season, but the D-Type continued to flourish in private hands, winning Le Mans in 1956 and 1957 for the Ecurie Ecosse. Although not necessarily well-suited to every type of course, the D-Type proved to be extremely effective on properly surfaced endurance circuits, and it remains one of the most important Le Mans race cars ever built, holding a special place in Coventry lore.

Chassis number XKD 530 offers a tale that is surely as intricate and fascinating as any surviving D-Type. One of the 54 examples produced for privateer customers, this car was dispatched from the factory on February 13, 1956, finished in British Racing Green, as confirmed by its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate. Retailed through Finnish Jaguar dealer S.M.K., the car was delivered in April 1956 to Curt Lincoln, of Helsinki, a tennis player on Finland's Davis Cup team who was known to the racing world for his exploits in F3 midget cars and a Jaguar C-Type.

As factory documentation reportedly demonstrates, Mr. Lincoln sought to avoid excessive duty on the import; therefore, he instructed Coventry to make the car appear used, so that it would not be subject to new vehicle tariffs. To this end, the factory brushed the pedals to make them appear worn, replaced the steering wheel with a used one, and adjusted the odometer to misleadingly reflect accrued mileage, among other measures.

Mr. Lincoln primarily campaigned the D-Type at the Elaintarhanajo, Finland's best-known race of the period, which was run annually between 1932 and 1963 on a two-kilometer track at the heart of Helsinki. With the final drive ratio increased to 3.54:1, XKD 530 was driven by Mr. Lincoln under the banner of his Scuderia Askolin (named for partial owner and timber magnate Carl-Johan Askolin) to a 1st in class finish on May 10, 1956. Later that season, Lincoln again took 1st in class while racing side-by-side with his C-Type, which he had lent to Vaino Miettinen for the contest.

Other than the 1957 Elaintarhanajo, XKD 530 was used primarily for ice racing following the 1956 season, and team Askolin fitted the tires with 1¾-inch spikes for this purpose. Mr. Lincoln drove the car to 1st place finishes in this fashion on February 24, 1957, and, again, on March 10, after which the car was repainted in Scuderia Askolin's white and dark blue team livery.

From this point forward, Mr. Lincoln focused on driving his other cars, while XKD 530 was piloted for Askolin by various team drivers. This development was probably largely prompted by the FIA's cancellation of the Production Sports Car class in 1957. Correspondence suggests that around this time, Mr. Lincoln contacted the factory with interest in modifying the car to GT class specifications by converting it into an XK-SS road car. Eventually, the decision was made to conduct further race modifications domestically. Coachbuilders Wiima, of Helsinki, were retained to install a full-width windscreen, a new nearside door, and a custom tail fin. The year 1958 saw continued competitive outings, with numerous 1st and 2nd place finishes.

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Robert Myrick Photography