Jaguar Classic announces D-Type continuation
All-new 25-car run primed for launch at this week's Salon Retromobile
Lister revived the Knobbly, Aston Martin has built 25 more DB4 GTs, and Land Rover couldn't even wait a year before getting in on the act with its 're-engineered' Defender. Jaguar itself has already brought back the XKSS, committed to 10 'reborn' E-Types, and even gone so far as to stick an electric motor in a 'future-proofed' version of the same model.
Following extensive research, and working from the original engineering drawings, Jaguar seems confident that every one of the 'new' D-Types - set to be hand-built at the JLR Classic Works in Coventry - will be made to an "authentic, original specification", resulting in the creation of 25 "period-correct sports cars".
There's no word on cost yet - it seems likely if you need to ask you're already too late - though a choice of either 1955-spec 'Short Nose' or 1956-spec 'Long Nose' bodywork has been confirmed. The first prototype example will make its debut at Salon Retromobile in Paris this week, with more details expected to be announced then.
if you get a chance go to the classic centre in Cov, the cars are amazing and just the smells alone bring back your best childhood car memories! Where else could you see 7 XJ220's, countless old RR's, e-types everywhere etc. If my numbers come up on the lottery I'm straight there.
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I'd sooner have something like this Jag over the next million quid track-only Ferrari or whatever.
Sadly these things are just investment "vehicles" for the super rich.
In the UK, you can build an all-new-parts D-type and register it.
Or you can build an all-new-parts D-type that's an accurate replica.
Or you can build an accurate replica that's registerable under the "reconstructed classics" scheme, but that's going to involve a lot of old bits.
...and this is one of the easier countries to do this sort of thing in...
(Insert "Lightweight E", "XKSS", "DB4GT" etc in place of "D-type"...)
Where you're going wrong is viewing them as usable cars...
This is exactly why I’m into cars, they may not have the patina or history of the original cars but they have the style, the grace, the smell, the charisma and the soul of the originals. Not only that but they will put a huge smile on your face, and onlookers, every time you press the loud pedal and go over 50mph.
How ANYONE who claims they’re into cars can’t think this isnt a good idea is beyond me. Ok, so most of us can’t afford one but why should that be a reason to not lust after one.
Given the price tag, and the exclusivity of them, prospective owners could easily afford to have their 'man' load it into a trailer and deliver it to any track of ones choosing for a few hours, to be able to rag its arse pretending your Hawthorn 4-wheel drifting a D at La Sarthe......for ones 'man' to then load it up and trailer it back to ones toy collection, until repeating all over again on another day.......
Now, whether any of the new owners will do that is another matter entirely......
In the UK, you can build an all-new-parts D-type and register it.
Or you can build an all-new-parts D-type that's an accurate replica.
Or you can build an accurate replica that's registerable under the "reconstructed classics" scheme, but that's going to involve a lot of old bits.
...and this is one of the easier countries to do this sort of thing in...
(Insert "Lightweight E", "XKSS", "DB4GT" etc in place of "D-type"...)
Where you're going wrong is viewing them as usable cars...
Great that they can still crank out more of these, presumably using the original tooling etc.
Will they end up being more or less valuable than the original "originals" ?
The build quantities of these cars do sound rather low to me. If you are going to do it, surely a few more would make more sense commercially?
I know that the toffs like limited numbers buut surely 50x 1,000,000 GBP is better than 25x1,500,000 GBP ?
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