1955 Jaguar D-Type
- Engine
- 3.4L DOHC inline-six with three Weber 45 DCO3 carburetors, ~250 bhp
- Colour
- Scottish blue with white St. Andrews Cross
Chassis XKD 501 was the first D-Type Jaguar delivered to a private racing team, dispatched to the Scottish outfit Ecurie Ecosse in May 1955. Wearing the team's distinctive Scottish blue with St Andrew's Cross livery, it was campaigned extensively across British club circuits before being prepared for the 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it was piloted by Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson. The car accumulated a remarkable string of top-finishing results in 1955 and 1956, and is directly associated with Ecurie Ecosse's back-to-back Le Mans victories.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$21,780,000
- 1955-05-05 →Factory deliveryEcurie Ecossefull documentation
First private-team recipient of a D-Type, dispatched directly from the factory. The car wore the team's characteristic livery with the St. Andrews Cross and was campaigned extensively in British events throughout 1955 and 1956.
Competition
- 19551955 Charterhall racesDriver: Desmond Titterington1st and 2nd place finishes
Two separate results achieved at early August Charterhall meeting.
- 19551955 Snetterton racesDriver: Desmond TitteringtonTwo 1st place finishes
Races held approximately one week after the Charterhall event.
- 19551955 Crimond racesDriver: Ninian Sanderson1st and 2nd place finishes
- 1955-07-091955 Leinster TrophyDriver: Desmond Titterington9th overall, 1st in class
- 1955-07-171955 British Grand PrixDriver: Ninian Sanderson6th place
- 1955-08-201955 Goodwood Nine HoursDriver: Desmond Titterington2nd place
Titterington and Sanderson shared driving duties in this endurance event.
- 1955-09-031955 Aintree raceDriver: Desmond Titterington2nd place
Final competitive outing for the car in the 1955 season.
- 19561956 Aintree raceDriver: Ron Flockhart3rd place
- 19561956 Charterhall raceDriver: Ron Flockhart3rd place
- 1956-05-211956 Goodwood raceDriver: Ron Flockhart1st and 2nd place finishes
- 1956-06-301956 12 Hours of ReimsDriver: Ron Flockhart4th place
Flockhart and Sanderson co-drove; the top three finishers were all works D-Types. The car beat the current Ferrari TR Spider and a Formula 1-derived Gordini.
- 1956-07-281956 Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: Ron Flockhart
Flockhart and Sanderson co-drove for Ecurie Ecosse; race started in wet conditions with only 14 of 49 starters finishing. Full result not captured in the available catalogue text.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1955RepairJaguar factory
Car returned to the Jaguar factory for repairs after Jimmy Stewart crashed it during practice; this occurred twice in May 1955.
Two separate repair episodes following two practice incidents; the car was sidelined from the June 1955 Le Mans entry as a result.
- 1956Modification
Full-width windscreen fitted to comply with new regulations, and the engine replaced with that from XKD 561 (engine number 2036-9), which Ecurie Ecosse had separately acquired.
Rule changes for 1956 required the wider screen; the engine swap used a unit the team already owned.
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