It’s not every day that one gets to own a brand new classic. In fact, the only way to really acquire something fresh and original from the days gone by is by painstaking restoration. Jaguar Land Rover, through its Jaguar Classic division, gives lucky buyers a chance to own something new—and original.
The Jaguar XKSS is based on the original D-type that saw victories at Le Mans from 1954-56. In 1957, some nine cars that were supposed to be exported to North America were lost in a fire at the Browns Lane factory in the British Midlands. This made the already rare XKSS even more scarce—with just 16 units in existence.
Thanks to modern technology and drawings of the original design, Jaguar Classic has recreated the Jaguar XKSS, which debuted at the Los Angeles International Auto Show last week. The car, which has a Magnesium Alloy body painted in Sherwoood Green, is practically a brand-nw classic.
Under the hood throbs a 3.4-liter D-type motor, putting out 262hp. While it may have old-school tech, parts like the cast iron block, the three Webber carburetors, and cast cylinder heads are all new. The same holds true for the interior, with the steering wheel, wood panels, and leather seats all fresh from the Jaguar Classic factory.
There is a bit of good and bad news surrounding the unveiling of this classic Jag. The good news is that it will indeed go into production next year. The bad news is that only a handful will be able to own one, specifically a select nine lucky owners who have 1 million euros to spare. Still, it’s nice to know that Jaguar took to time to come up with a brand new classic.
The Jaguar XKSS is the second classic model from the British luxury marque, after the six E-types that were released in 2014.
