Summer 2024 Newsletter • VOLUME 75

1958 Jaguar XKSS RE-CREATION

A Classic Showcase restoration.

About the Jaguar and its restoration

Our team has recently started work on our second XKSS build, which will be similar to our recently completed 1959 XKSS British Racing Green example. This is the second of (2) XKSS alloy bodies we acquired from a true craftsmen panel builder who fabricates state-of-the-art vehicles. Our team has already created the first car as an in-house “demo", and this second XKSS will be offered to collectors once complete! We have chosen a great color combination for this second build that will feature a classic pairing of Jaguar Dark Blue over a Red interior. As with our first build, we will be creating the seats, console, panels, top, and Tonneau to be just like the originals. All of the materials we are using for the build are Jaguar materials.

Jaguar XKSS Special Builds - SUMMER 2024 update

The XKSS will be powered by a Jaguar XK-140 MC 3.4 liter red-head twin cam engine. The XKSS will also feature: Weber carbs, a spin-on oil filter, an alloy finned radiator with auxiliary fan, a gear reduction starter, Tremec T-5 5-speed transmission, a custom made and balanced driveshaft, a rebuilt early 1961 E-Type rear end, early Series 1 E-Type front suspension, adjustable front and rear shocks, Wilwood brakes, and original Dunlop peg-style alloy racing wheels with 3-eared knock-offs. The instrumentation is period-correct Smiths, which includes all of the proper British knobs and switches to give it a great look, along with a D-Type 3 spoke steering wheel, battery cut-off switch, and 1-2-3 electronic ignition. The exhaust system starts with Classic Fabs custom-made headers, along with a stainless pipe and muffler coming out on the side of the car. The gas tank is aluminum and includes a speed fill.

About the Jaguar XKSS

The Jaguar XKSS is a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type racing car, initially built in 1957. Only 16 were built and sold at the time. Nine were destroyed in a factory fire in 1957. In 2016, Jaguar announced that a small production run of nine "continuation" XKSS reproductions would be hand-built to the original specifications to complete the originally scheduled run of 25. Following Jaguar's withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1956 season, a number of completed and partly completed D-types remained unsold at the Browns Lane factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building these unused chassis, and to exploit the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars, Sir William Lyons decided to convert a number to road-going specification. Only minor changes were made to the basic D-type structure: the addition of a passenger side door; the removal of the large fin behind the driver; and the removal of the divider between passenger and driver seats. In addition, changes were made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons: a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen was added; sidescreens were added to both driver and passenger doors; a rudimentary folding fabric roof was added; rear light clusters were mounted higher on the wings; and thin chrome strips were added to the edges of the front light fairings. By early 1957, a total of 16 of the planned production run of 25 XKSS's had been completed at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant. On the evening of 12 February a fire broke out, destroying the remaining nine in mid-production. All of the destroyed vehicles had been destined for North America. Most of the previously built 16 XKSSs were also sold in the US.

Steve McQueen in his XKSS