1955 Jaguar D-Type
- Engine
- 3.4L inline-six DOHC dry-sump, triple Weber carburetors, ~245 bhp
- Colour
- Red
Jaguar D-Type chassis XKD 518, dispatched in December 1955 and delivered to Henlys of Manchester, is one of a handful of D-Types finished in red from the factory — a livery reportedly chosen to attract Italian privateer buyers. Its early owners, including Peter Blond and Jonathan Sieff, campaigned it actively at British circuits throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s. The numbers-matching 3.4-litre dry-sump XK engine remains in place, and an unbroken ownership record spanning nearly seven decades is supported by inclusion in the principal marque registers.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$6,000,000
- 1955-12-29 →Factory deliveryHenlys of Manchesterfull documentation
Original dealer recipient of the car; unable to find a buyer and the car was taken on by another party.
- → 1957-08-01Private salePeter Blondfull documentation
Purchased the car for £3,500 and raced it actively in club events during 1956 and 1957 seasons.
- 1957-08-01 → 1959Private saleJonathan Siefffull documentation
Continued racing the car, sometimes alongside the previous owner; sold after the 1959 season.
- 1959 →Private saleMonty Mostyn of Speedwell Garagepartial documentation
Held the car briefly following the 1959 season.
- 1962 →Acquisition unknownJohn Houghtonpartial documentation
Second period of ownership, beginning around 1962.
- 1967 →Private saleJohn Coombs and Richard Wilkinspartial documentation
Joint ownership beginning around 1967.
- → 1982Acquisition unknownPeter Grantpartial documentation
Music industry manager who owned the car prior to its transatlantic sale in 1982.
- 1982 → 1996Private saleGeorge Staufferfull documentation
American collector who held the car for approximately fourteen years after it was brought to the United States.
- 1996 → 1998Private saleChris Coxpartial documentation
- 1998 → 2005Private saleRoger Willbankspartial documentation
- 2005 → 2008Private saleBill Jacobspartial documentation
- 2008 →Private saleCurrent owner and consignorfull documentation
Car restored to original factory red during this ownership; no gaps in the documented ownership chain are recorded.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBernie Ecclestonepartial documentation
Took on the car after the dealership failed to sell it; subsequently sold it to the first private racing owner.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJohn Houghtonpartial documentation
First of two periods of ownership; car passed through his hands briefly before going to Bloxham.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJean Bloxhamfull documentation
Raced the car at Goodwood and Silverstone in 1961, achieving a third-place finish in one outing.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownClive Laceypartial documentation
Brought the car to the inaugural International E-type Day at Donington Park in 1974.
Competition
- 1956AintreeDriver: Peter Blond
One of several circuit appearances during an active 1956 season.
- 1956SilverstoneDriver: Peter Blond
Part of the busy 1956 racing schedule.
- 1956Oulton ParkDriver: Peter Blond
Part of the busy 1956 racing schedule.
- 1956Goodwood TrophyDriver: Peter Blond9th
Competed in the named trophy race at Goodwood circuit.
- 1956-06-01SnettertonDriver: Peter Blond2nd and 1st
Two separate outings at the same venue in the same month; both podium results recorded.
- 1956-09-01SnettertonDriver: Peter Blond1st
- 1957AintreeDriver: Peter Blond
Part of the active 1957 season programme.
- 1957SilverstoneDriver: Peter Blond
Part of the active 1957 season programme.
- 1957Oulton ParkDriver: Peter Blond
Part of the active 1957 season programme.
- 1957GoodwoodDriver: Peter Blond
Part of the active 1957 season programme.
- 1958-07-01Full SuttonDriver: Jonathan Sieff2nd
Best documented finish from the Sieff ownership period; Blond may have co-driven.
- 1961-03-01GoodwoodDriver: Jean Bloxham
One of two Goodwood appearances by Bloxham in early 1961.
- 1961-04-01GoodwoodDriver: Jean Bloxham
Second Goodwood outing in spring 1961.
- 1961-05-01SilverstoneDriver: Jean Bloxham3rd
Third-place finish recorded in at least one of her Silverstone outings that month.
- 1974International E-type Day, Donington Park
Car attended the inaugural running of this marque gathering under Clive Lacey's ownership.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
The car was upgraded from its original narrow windscreen to a full-width windscreen configuration, consistent with period photographic evidence.
Timing of this change is not recorded.
- —Modification
A tailfin was added behind the driver's headrest; the car was originally built without one.
Exact date of the tailfin addition is unknown.
- —Bodywork
At some point the factory red paintwork was changed to British Racing Green, and the car was subsequently refinished back to its original red.
Neither the date of the repaint to green nor the restoration to red is recorded.
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