Jaguar to build nine brand new XKSS cars

Jaguar is to build the classic 1950s XKSS as an ultra-exclusive continuation model.

Nine new examples will be hand built by Jaguar Classic to the exact specification as they appeared in 1957, replacing the cars lost due to the famous Browns Lane factory fire.

Tim Hannig, Director Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “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. Jaguar Classic’s highly skilled team of engineers and technicians will draw on decades of knowledge to ensure each of the nine cars is completely authentic and crafted to the highest quality.”

The original cars were earmarked for export to the USA but just 16 were completed before disaster struck. Now 59 years later, Jaguar is going to build the nine ‘lost’ XKSS sports cars for a select group of established collectors and customers.

The expertise gained during the construction of the Lightweight E-type project will be transferred to the construction of the nine ultra-exclusive continuations. Each one will be hand-built at Jaguar’s new ‘Experimental Shop’ in Warwick.

Every car will be constructed to the same specifications as those first 16 made in 1957 – every aspect fully certified by Jaguar. The price will be in excess of £1 million.

The story of the XKSS began following Jaguar’s three successive Le Mans victories in 1955, 1956 and 1957 with the all-conquering D-type.

After the hat-trick of wins, Sir Williams Lyons took the decision on 14 January 1957 to convert the remaining 25 D-types into road-going versions with several external modifications – creating, says Jaguar, the ‘world’s first super car’.

These modifications included the addition of a new higher windscreen, an extra door on the passenger side, taking away the divider between driver and passenger and the removal of the famous fin behind the driver’s seat.

The first deliveries of the new continuation Jaguar XKSS will begin in early 2017.

'Barn Find' Jaguar E-Type sells for £58k

A 1963 Jaguar E-Type found under a hedge has sold for £58,000 at COYS auction house.

The E-Type, shoowing just 44,870 miles on the clock, still had the last tax disc on the windscreen which expired in November 1969. The car’s first owner in May 1963 was Ivor Arbiter, who owned Drum City and Sound City in London and was the designer of the ‘drop – T’ logo for The Beatles.

“It is ideal for restoration and is extremely rare,” said valuer James Good at international auctioneers COYS, “It has a great history, including racing, which collectors love.”

The car’s first owner, Arbiter, was at the centre of the 60s music scene. The Beatle’s Manager Brian Epstein requested that the band’s name appeared on the bass drum so Arbiter sketched the “drop-T” logo on a scrap of paper with the capital B and dropped T to emphasise the word ‘beat’. Drum City was paid £5 for the design and it was hand painted by local sign writer, Eddie Stokes, who painted bass-drum heads for the store during his lunch hour.

Good added: “The Beatles logo is now recognised as one of the most significant and widely reproduced logos in history, and the fact that it was designed by the first owner of this E-Type is not insignificant.”

The car changed owners a couple of times between 1965 and 1967, when it moved to its last owner Frank Riches. Frank was a keen motorsport enthusiast and raced both the E-Type and his MGTF at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Blackbushe between 1967 and 1969. Frank would drive the E-type to the circuit with the MG behind and would then race both cars and drive home.

Good said: “This wonderful Series 1, 3.8 E-Type is in original condition, with matching numbers and has never been restored. It retains all the features it carried in 1969 and is possibly one of the most original examples remaining today. The car needs a total restoration but it has all the ingredients to make a superb car – this is a true rarity.”

This E-Type comes with its original brown log book, V5 and V5C, its last MOT certificate dated November 1968, the sales invoice to Frank Riches for £855 along with the Heritage Certificate confirming all the important details. It also has its original Operating Maintenance and Service Handbook, Service Manual and Spare Parts Catalogue and the original jack.

Chris Routledge, CEO of international auctioneers COYS, said: “The derelict E-Type attracted attention from all four corners of the world and bidders in a packed auction room and via telephone fought fiercely for it on Tuesday night. It ended up going to an English collector and Beatles enthusiast who plans to slowly restore it to its former glory.”