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Jaguar XKSS Gets Reborn as Continuation Model

For those who are into old Jags, the XKSS needs no introduction. For those who don’t know the story of the XKSS, the essential is that nine of the 25 units ever made were destroyed in a terrible fire. Alas, Jaguar only sold 16 examples of the breed.
Jaguar XKSS 4 photos
Photo: Jaguar
Jaguar XKSSJaguar XKSSJaguar XKSS
It took Jaguar 59 years to decide about it, but the announcement has been made official - the nine units that were burned down to the ground in 1957 will be reborn as continuation vehicles. This decision follows the completion of the bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful Lightweight E-Type continuation series.

First deliveries are slated for early 2017. So how much will Jaguar charge for the opportunity of driving a completely new old car? “In excess of £1 million,” or $1.42 million at current exchange rates. In other words, a sh**load of money. The question is, is it worth spending so many green dollar bills on such a thing?

Well, if I had the money, I would put a deposit on one right now. The XKSS is nothing but a rebodied Jaguar D-Type, an iconic race car that has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row in 1955, 1956, and 1957. Steve McQueen owned one and he loved it to bits. McQueen loved his car's paint finish and performance so much that he christened it the Green Rat. How cool is that?

Tim Hannig, director of the Jaguar Land Rover Classic division, had this to say about the continuation series: "The XKSS occupies a unique place in Jaguar's history and is a car coveted by collectors the world over for its exclusivity and unmistakable design." The continuation series of the first supercar in the world will be built by hand by expert craftsmen at the Jaguar Experimental Shop in Warwick.

For those who want to understand what makes the XKSS so special, Leno will take it from here.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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