Lot details
Registration No: YVG 354
Chassis No: 306411BW

- Straight-six Jaguar engine with triple carburettors

- BRG with green leather seats, Hardura carpets and Mota-Lita four spoke steering wheel

- Part of a deceased estate, in dry storage for c.12 months

Jaguar became a global brand thanks to their successes in the Le Mans 24 Hours during the 1950s when their production-based C-Type won in both 1951 and 1953. For the 1954 race, however, a much more sophisticated D-Type sports racer was developed, with the works team cars only just being beaten by Ferrari's 5-litre V12 375 Plus. However, Jaguars were soon leading the field again, with a one/two in the Reims 12 Hours a few weeks later. The Hawthorn/Bueb works D won the 1955 Le Mans race and the privateer Ecurie Ecosse team from Edinburgh claimed victory twice more for the marque in 1956 and 1957. This hat-trick of victories at Le Mans ensured the D Type's legendary status for all time. As the rarity and value of genuine Ds put them out of reach of most, a number of replicas and lookalike models were spawned over the years, such as the example offered here by RAM. One of the better kits available, the RAM D-Type was praised by Kit Cars & Specials magazine as having 'undisputed mechanical integrity,' and to be 'one of the most desirable replicas we have yet laid our hands on.'

Understood to have been built in the early 1990s using a 1963 Jaguar 340 as the donor vehicle, this fibreglass bodied example boasts a number of interesting features including Hardura carpeting, a Mota-Lita four spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel, alloy gear knob and period dip switch. The engine is believed to be of 3.8 litre capacity and the car appears to have been constructed to a good standard. With its period registration number and replica D-Type style alloy wheels shod with Pirelli tyres it certainly looks the part. Forming part of a deceased estate, having been in the late-owner's ownership since 1995, it has been in dry storage for at least a year and will require careful recommissioning before use. Reminiscent of the later cars with high fin and wraparound windscreen, YVG 354 is offered with a Swansea V5C registration document.

Please Note: The V5 document shows the make as Jaguar but no model or type details are recorded. The chassis number quoted on this document appears to relate to a Jaguar MkX 3.8 saloon and the engine number quoted ends in 5 and not 3 as recorded on the chassis plate. Details of the engine number stamped on the engine will be available once the car is delivered to the sale venue.

The car has been running and driven under its own power briefly when delivered to the sale.

The engine number on the engine is obscured by the oil filter but appears to start with a 7 and end with an 8 which we believe would be consistent with a MkX 3.8-litre unit.