1977 Jaguar D-Type Evocation

Lot details
Registration No: DXI 50
Chassis No: 3B-2944BW

- 4.2 Jaguar engine with gas flowed head , hardened valve seats

- Triple Webers with twin side exit exhaust pipes

- Dunlop pattern alloy wheels

- Based on a 1977 Daimler Sovereign donor car and registered on the V5 as a "sports"


Jaguar's D-Type was not only one of the best looking cars ever to grace a race circuit, but one of the most successful too, winning arguably the toughest race of the all, the Le Mans 24 Hours, three years running. Original examples rarely come to market these days and, when they do, these multi-million pound vehicles are way beyond the pockets of ordinary mortals. For this reason there has for some time been a thriving market in evocations, of which the Ram ones are among the best.

This splendid example is based on a 1977 Daimler Sovereign donor car and has a great specification. Its 4.2-litre engine features a gas-flowed cylinder head, hardened valve seats, triple Weber carburettors, alloy header tank, electric fan, electronic ignition, and six branch stainless steel exhaust manifold leading to twin side exit exhaust pipes. The four-speed manual gearbox has overdrive on top and drives through a 3.54:1 differential. Braking is via vented discs and XJ6 4-pot calipers on the front and outboard XJ40 discs on the rear, while the twin master cylinder set-up is adjustable for bias. The suspension features Spax adjustable dampers all-round and 'DX 150' rides on Dunlop pattern alloy wheels. Other notable items of specification include correctly fused electrics, leather trimmed seats and full harness seat belts. The vendor informs us that the car is 'running sweetly with a truly fabulous exhaust note', and has no hesitation in currently rating the bodywork, engine and transmission as 'excellent' and the paintwork and interior trim as 'very good'. What's not to like?!

The monocoque construction D-Types were produced by Jaguar Cars between 1954 and 1957 - records suggest a total of 18 factory versions and 53 customer ones. The first Le Mans triumph fell to the Works car of Hawthorn/Bueb and the latter two to the Scottish Ecurie Ecosse team.