Production: 1954 - 1957
Production Type: For Competitions
Produced: 71
The Jaguar D-Type was designed specifically to win the Le Mans 24-hour race, it shared the straight-6 XK engine and many mechanical components with its C-Type. Its structure, however, was radically different, with innovative monocoque construction and slippery aerodynamics that integrated aviation technology, including in some examples a distinctive vertical stabilizer. Engine displacement began at 3.4 litres, was enlarged to 3.8 L in 1957, and reduced to 3.0 L in 1958 when Le Mans rules limited engines for sports racing cars to that maximum. D-Types won Le Mans in 1955, 1956 and 1957 that proved to be the most successful year, Jaguar D-Types took five of the top six places. After Jaguar temporarily retired from racing as a factory team, the company offered the remaining unfinished D-Types as street-legal XKSS versions, whose perfunctory road-going equipment made them eligible for production sports car races in America.
Engine
3.4 L XK6 I6 – 3,442 cm3 / 210.04 cu in (1954)
3.8 L XK6 I6 – 3,781 cm3 / 230.73 cu in (1957)
3.0 L XK6 I6 – 2,997 cm3 / 182.89 cu in (1958)
Body Style
Roadster
Jaguar D-Type Prototype
Production: 6
Jaguar D-Type Long Nose
Production: 12
Serial Jaguar D-Type (Short Nose)
Production: 44