You can still buy a brand new 1954 Jaguar D-Type

Restoring a vintage car is an expensive ordeal. Not only do you have to spend time and money finding the right parts, you also have to hire a skilled mechanic to put it all together. But if you’re really determined to own an old yet iconic vehicle then why not buy a brand new 1954 Jaguar D-Type?

Yes, you read that right. Vintage car enthusiasts can still purchase the D-Type thanks to Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works (JLR) – the British brand’s division dedicated to its classic cars.

JLR will be following the factory’s original engineering drawings to build 25 Le Mans spec D-Types in either long or short nose configuration. And take note, each will be using unused D-Type chassis numbers from the 1950s. Sadly, these vehicles can only be used in private roads or race tracks due to its racing specifications.

The Jaguar D-Type had a rounded aerodynamic body design, a monocoque chassis, and 3.4L XK straight-six engine which was later upgraded to 3.8L. It was entered in one of the toughest of endurance races - the 24 hours of Le Mans - where it dominated three years in a row from 1955 to 1957. 

Production for the D-Type was supposed to reach 100 units but the Jaguar only built 75, leaving 25 chassis numbers unused. This year, the D-Type makes its return as one of the most coveted race cars in the world today.

If you plan to purchase this beautiful machine, you’ll have to make sure you have really deep pockets as the official and period-correct continuation of the D-Type sold for £16.4-million (around P1,1-billion).