Coys Auction - Fine Motor Cars
Blenheim Palace,
Woodstock,
Oxfordshire OX20 1PX

Saturday 5th July 2008 at 14.30

The Jaguar D Type was one of the most beautiful and charismatic sports-racing cars ever made, not to mention one of the most successful. First appearing in 1954, the D Type featured bodywork of a highly aerodynamic nature, complete with tail-mounted fin for top speed stability, penned by ex-aircraft designer Malcolm Sayer. The centre section of the car was of monocoque construction, similar to that of an aircraft fuselage, whilst power came from the now legendary twin-camshaft, 3,442cc, six cylinder engine (later 3,781cc) which produced some 250bhp at a relatively unstressed 5,570rpm and used dry-sump lubrication. Top speed was in excess of 170mph, whilst 60mph from standstill could be achieved in a breathtaking 4.7 seconds. Not surprisingly the D-Type dominated the international racing scene from the outset until its demise, by w