autoevolution
 

Le Mans Winning Jaguar D-Type Sets Record Price for British Cars Sold at Auction

The most expensive British car ever sold at auction is a Jaguar that was built in 1955.
1955 Jaguar D-Type 38 photos
Photo: Patrick Ernzen for RM Sotheby's
1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-Type1955 Jaguar D-TypeChassis number XKD 501 en route to 1956 Le Mans 1st place finishChassis number XKD 501 en route to 1956 Le Mans 1st place finishChassis number XKD 501 en route to 1956 Le Mans 1st place finishChassis no. XKD 501 pictured at the finish of the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans along with the 2nd place Aston Martin DB3S of Sir Stirling Moss and Peter Collins.Chassis no. XKD 501 poses with its drivers and other members of the Ecurie Ecosse team after winning the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans
While this may seem strange, the Jaguar in question is a racing-specification Jaguar D-Type. The exact model that has won the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, and this kind of pedigree is worth a lot in itself. Even if it had not raced and won at Le Mans in 1956, this Jaguar D-Type is in pristine condition, and it is ready for competition.

Back in 1956, this Jaguar D-Type, the model that pioneered the monocoque chassis design that is used by most automobiles on the market today, completed 2,507.19 miles at Le Mans with an average speed of 104.47 miles per hour (167 km/h). Its top speed was 156.868 mph (251 km/h) on the Mulsanne Straight.

Curiously, the model with chassis number XKD 501 was not raced by the official factory team, but by Ecurie Ecosse. Because of that, the D-Type in question was painted in the traditional livery of the team, consisting of “Scottish blue,” and complemented with a white cross.

The winning bid for this pristine condition racing model was of $19.8 million, but auction fees raised the price to a total of $21.78 million. The record price was set at a Monterey auction organized by RM Sotheby’s, and happened on the same weekend when the most expensive American car was sold, in the form of Carroll Shelby’s original, one-owner, Shelby Cobra CSX 2000.

However, racing a car that was sold for $21.78 million at auction require tremendous courage. We can only imagine how the person driving it for the photo session that resulted in this gallery might have felt with it on the road. That kind of responsibility is best reserved for billionaires, which might not cry if anything happens to the most expensive British car ever sold at auction.

The previous most expensive British car ever sold was an Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, which was traded last year by RM Sotheby’s for $14.3 million, while a McLaren F1 switched hands for $13.75 million.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories