Australian Formula One race car driver Paul Hawkins once owned this special Jaguar
by Brad Anderson
1 hour ago
- For the past 31 years, this D-Type has been owned by a collector in Switzerland.
- In 2016, the Jaguar that won the 1955 24h of Le Mans sold for over $21 million.
- Its original inline-six has been rebuilt and the car is eligible for historic racing events.
The Jaguar D-Type is a racing legend. Built between 1954 and 1957, it was engineered with one goal in mind: winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which it did three times in a row in 1955, 1956, and 1957. Only 71 examples were ever produced, and one of the very last, an exceptionally rare, never-raced model, is now expected to sell for over $7 million, enough to buy a mansion just about anywhere on Earth.
This D-Type is chassis XKD 551 and was sold to its first owner in October 1957, who had it converted to street use, something that necessitated the fitment of a passenger door, a windshield, and the removal of the central bulkhead. It was then sold in 1963 before again trading hands and ending up in the hands of Australian F1 driver Paul Hawkins.
Read: Sir Stirling Moss Drove This 1954 Jaguar D-Type At Le Mans
In the 1970s, the street modifications were removed, returning the car to its original specification. The inline-six engine that it left the factory with was later removed for preservation and replaced by another. The D-Type has since been owned by the same Swiss individual since 1994 and has been kept in storage for most of its life. In addition, the original engine was completely rebuilt in 2005 and recently fitted back into the car.
Broad Arrow Auctions
Broad Arrow Auctions is handling the sale of the car and notes it’s eligible to compete in historic racing events like the Goodwood Revival, Mille Miglia Storica, Le Mans Classic, and Monaco Historic Grand Prix. It’ll be sold during a Swiss sales event and is tipped to sell for between CHF5.25 million and CHF 6.25 million, or $6.512 million to $7.753 million.
The most expensive D-Type ever sold was the car run by Ecurie Ecosse that claimed victory at the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans. It traded hands for $21.78 million in 2016, and in the near-decade since, its value has probably increased even more.
Broad Arrow Auctions
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