Jaguar XKSS Continuation by Jaguar Classic
Car producer :  |
Jaguar |
---|---|
Model: |
XKSS Continuation by Jaguar Classic |
Year: |
2016 |
Type: |
Roadster |
The Jaguar XKSS is a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type racing car, initially built in 1957. A small production run by Jaguar produced replicas of the remaining 9 of the scheduled production of 25 XKSS, launched in 2016
Following Jaguar's withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1956 season, a number of completed and partly completed D-types remained unsold at the Browns Lane factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building these unused chassis, and to exploit the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars, Sir William Lyons decided to convert a number to road-going specification. Only minor changes were made to the basic D-type structure: the addition of a passenger side door; the removal of the large fin behind the driver; and the removal of the divider between passenger and driver seats. In addition, changes were made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons: a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen was added; sidescreens were added to both driver and passenger doors; a rudimentary, folding, fabric roof was added for weather protection; chromed bumpers were added front and rear (a styling cue later used on the E-type); XK140 rear light clusters were mounted higher on the wings; and thin chrome strips were added to the edges of the front light fairings.
On the evening of 12 February 1957, a fire broke out at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant and destroyed nine of the 25 cars that were in various stages of completion. With the requisite jigs and tooling also destroyed, this effectively ended production of the XKSS version, although Jaguar later converted two additional D-Types.
In March 2016, Jaguar announced that it would be completing the original 25 car order from 1957 by building high-quality XKSS replicas “Continuation” to make up the remaining 9 chassis numbers of cars destroyed by the plant fire.