Makes › Jaguar › D-type › D-type (production series) · Factory competition · 1954–1956 Extremely Rare
Jaguar
D-type (production series)
Monocoque sports-racer; Le Mans winner 1955–57; small customer series alongside works cars.
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 54 Built
- Years
- 1954–1956
- Engine
- Front-mounted XK inline six · 3,400 cc / 3.4 LFactory: 3.4 L
- Power
- 201 kW / 274 PSFactory: 270 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 274 km/hFactory: 170 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Malcolm Sayer (body)
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The D-type was one of the first sports racers with monocoque construction and won Le Mans three times, in 1955 for the works team and in 1956 and 1957 for Ecurie Ecosse. Coventry built 54 customer cars alongside the works machines, and it is arguably Jaguar's most significant racing car.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionD-type customer cars built at Coventry (works cars additional) | 541,2 | Factory production | Disputed |
Sources differ: RM Sotheby's says 54 ("Coventry ultimately built 54 D-Type customer cars"), Ultimatecarpage lists 42 numbers built.
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Developed from the C-type, the D-type debuted at Le Mans in 1954 and finished a narrow second to a Ferrari 375 Plus. It used a developed 3.4-litre XK six with triple Weber carburettors, and Malcolm Sayer's aerodynamic body. A long-nose version won in 1955, and later customer cars could be had with 3.8-litre wide-angle-head engines.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard D-type (production series).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Front-mounted XK inline six3 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 3,400 cc / 3.4 LFactory: 3.4 L3 Independently researched |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | 1955 works cars introduced an asymmetrical "35/40" head, inlet valves at 35 degrees and exhaust valves at 40 degrees2 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Triple Weber carburettors3 Independently researched |
| Power | 201 kW / 274 PSFactory: 270 hp · converted4Source states bhp. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Monocoque3 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Disc brakes carried over from the C-type2 Independently researched |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Monocoque with a front subframe carrying engine and front suspension; subframe welded on the six 1954 cars, bolted on later cars2 Independently researched |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 274 km/hFactory: 170 mph · converted4"Over 170 mph", stated for the factory prototype. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Customer cars carry XKD chassis numbers (e.g. XKD 546) and were built with short-nose bodies; long-nose bodies were a works feature. Construction is monocoque with triple Weber carburettors on the XK engine.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
1955 Jaguar D-Type | Monterey 2023 | RM Sotheby's Level B
- 54 D-type customer cars built at Coventry (works cars additional)
-
2
Jaguar D-Type Level B Wouter Melissen · Ultimatecarpage.com
- Numbers built: 42
- intake valves were mounted at 35 degrees, whereas the exhaust valves were mounted at 40 degrees
- the disc brakes from the C-Type were carried over
- On the six cars built in 1954, the subframe was welded to the monocoque, but on later cars it was bolted on
-
3
1955 Jaguar D-Type – Monterey 2023 Level B RM Sotheby's
- 3.4-liter inline six-cylinder XK engine
- triple Weber carburetors
- monocoque construction
-
4
1954 Jaguar D-type prototype (OVC 501) Level A Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust
- powered by a 270 bhp development of the same XK engine
- offering over 170 mph
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