Jaguar XKSS to be auctioned
The 1957 Jaguar XKSS was a race car converted for public road use, and only a limited number were produced. One of those few cars will be auctioned by RM Sotheby's at the Monterey Car Week Sale, August 17-19.
The XKSS is based on the Jaguar D-Type, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race two years in a row with the D-Type, but chose to withdraw from racing after the 1956 season. This left the D-Type chassis with some spare parts, which management decided to convert into a road car
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Jaguar modified the bodywork, eliminating the distinctive fins and adding basic amenities such as a passenger door, windshield, side curtains, and folding top, but kept the six-cylinder inline engine and other mechanical hardware. The result was a public road version of a still competitive racing car; the D-Type won Le Mans again in 1957 with the privateer Ecurie Ecosse team.
Originally, a production run of 25 cars was planned, but a fire broke out at the Jaguar factory and nine chassis were destroyed. Jaguar decided to complete production in 2016 with the continued production of nine cars.
The car being auctioned (chassis number XKSS 707) was originally imported to the United States, departing the factory in red leather and cream, and was purchased by racer Lou Brero Sr. who was killed in an accident before taking delivery. The car was then sold to dealer Sammy Weiss, who sold it to Sacramento dealer Sidney Colberg, a San Francisco resident and racer, in 1960.
Kolberg owned the XKSS for 15 years before selling it to British enthusiast Anthony Bamford (later Lord Bamford). Since then, XKSS 707 has lived in England and has been bought and sold several times. Over the years, the original hood, dented from a racing accident, was replaced and repainted in its current metallic blue.
According to the auction listing, much of the car remains original, including most of the bodywork, the engine block and head, and up to two of the three carburetors. The odometer shows 25,535 miles, which appears to be the actual lifetime mileage.
Original XKSSs are not often offered at auction, which explains the estimated bid of $12-14 million for this one. Remember that even Jaguar continuation cars sold for $1.5 million each when new.
