1983 Jaguar D-Type Replica

Perhaps because of Jaguar's multiple Le Mans wins in the 1950s with it's D-Type Sports Racer and it's associated black and white newsreel coverage on a Saturday morning or perhaps, because the car's beautiful and distinctive outline was so easy to draw on the back of a schoolbook the D-Type has always represented to the world a real British Racing Car. Original competition D-Types have always been just beyond the reach of the average enthusiast, perhaps not quite the millions they now command, but just too expensive to realistically consider. However, for most people, the desire to own a car so evocative of the 50s, with such purity of line has never gone away, and consequently over the last thirty years a number of talented engineers have lovingly crafted replicas as part of a small business, or often, for their own enjoyment. The Le Mans Car Company D-Type Replica offered here is one such.

The original lady owner ordered this D-Type replica in March 1998 from the Le Mans Car Company, a small engineering business from Westbury in Wiltshire who specialised in building bespoke quality replicas and apparently, this was the last one made by them before they moved on to other projects. This replica was built entirely to the owner's specifications and apparently she was, quite rightly, very involved with every detail, travelling to Westbury on a regular basis to see the car taking shape on the jig and then as a rolling chassis.

The body is made of high quality glass fibre, painted in a lovely shade of British Racing Green, with some interior and engine panels made from brushed aluminium. The 4.2-litre XK engine is from the donor vehicle, a 1983 Jaguar XJ6, and was fully reconditioned by the factory prior to its installation, as was the four-speed / overdrive gearbox. The inlet manifold and thermostat housing have been polished and the engine, which has proved to be very robust, reliable and economical, appears immaculate and free from oil leaks. Mechanically this car features a limited-slip differential, adjustable coil-sprung dampers, powerful up-rated brakes and the Goodrich tyres are virtually new.

The seats are upholstered in cream leather piped in BRG with the carpets in matching British Racing Green. Both seats are fitted with a Willans 4 point safety harness and the steering wheel is a 14" Moto Lita with a wooden rim. The instruments are laid out in a similar fashion to the competition cars and the whole cockpit adds to the "racing car on the road" feel. Supplied with a tailored leatherette, two part tonneau cover enabling the car to be driven solo with the passenger section covered, resulting in much less buffeting at speed. To date, the D-Type has covered just over 10,700 miles and, up until 10,685 miles, had been driven only by the original owner. In her ownership the car was serviced regularly, maintained to the highest standard and kept in a heated and dehumidified garage. Currently taxed and MoT'd, this well cared for D-Type replica is offered with a V5C document.