Jaguar D-Type (United Kingdom, 1954)

In 1954 Jaguar introduced a new endurance racing model that would carry on with the brand’s rather successful sports program, the D-Type. This factory race car was conceived to succeed Jaguar’s previous racing model, the C-Type, on the tracks The D-Type’s production run lasted for three years, until 1957.

The Jaguar D-Type was officially launched at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The D-Type is a pure racing-purpose model, specifically built for competition, although some roadgoing versions were made available for the market once Jaguar dropped from its motor sports program.   Preceded by the much praised and successful racing model C-Type, Jaguar’s new endurance racing car enjoyed the tremendously innovative introduction of the monocoque chassis. This wasn’t, however, enough to bring racing success to the D-Type, which stopped being produced in 1957 and was eventually replaced by the legendary model E-Type.

The Jaguar D-Type is powered by a front-mounted 3.4-liter engine with 250 hp, which is responsible for letting this car achieve its top speed at 174 mi/h (280 km/h). A rear-wheel drive system and a 4-speed manual transmission are also featured on the D-Type.

Magnesium alloy monocoque chassis with steel front subframe and aluminium-sheet central tub.   Platform     Suspension Front double wishbones with torsion bars and telescopic dampers; rear solid axle with trailing links, a transverse-torsion bar and telescopic dampers.   Steering Rack and pinion.   Brakes Dunlop disc brakes.

The D-Type’s roadster bodywork was majorly styled by Malcolm Sayer and the result was an aerodynamic and quite efficient automobile.

The most noticeable achievement of this model was when five Jaguar D-Type copies raced at the 1957 season of the Le Mans and ended up taking five out of the first six places.