JAGUAR D-TYPE EX-JLR ‘TOOL ROOM’ CAR
JAGUAR D-TYPE EX-JLR ‘TOOL ROOM’ CAR
Exact period-correct D-Type tool room reproduction
The only ex-Jaguar Heritage example
Ex-JLR press fleet, driving experience and promotional car
Likely used by Jaguar Classic as a reference standard for their
D-Type Continuation Car projectCurrent FIA Technical Passport
Recent competitor in the MRL Royal Automobile Club Woodcote
TrophyUK Road registered
Built between 2005 and 2007, this tool room D-Type was built to the exact period specification of Jaguar’s production D-Type. This specification was developed by the factory with their prototype, which, completed by May 1954 travelled to France for a Le Mans test session where Jaguar works driver Tony Rolt broke the lap record by five seconds. Three D-Types were built that year for Le Mans, featuring the early ‘short nose’ shape but with the addi>on of the iconic tailfin behind the headrest fairing.
Once completed, this car became the first ever tool room D-Type to receive an FIA Technical passport. Built by Jerry Booen of D Type Developments Ltd. using his collection of factory engineering drawings, the car was constructed in collaboration with David Duffy, who had been a competitor for many years and previously owned XKD 544.
The car was built to the exact factory specification for an early ‘short nose’ production D-Type. The car uses a correct 3.4 litre XK engine built to early D-Type specification, with dry sump and triple sandcast 45-DCO3 side-draught carburetors. The Dunlop disc brakes use six-pot front calipers and four-pot rear calipers, powered by a Plessey pump, exactly as in period.
It’s accuracy was further confirmed when it became part of the Jaguar Heritage collection, which also owns other original D-Types. The car was used for JLR press and promotional work including driving experience days.
In 2018 Jaguar Classic embarked on their D-Type Continuation project to create 25 all- new, period correct sports cars. As they owned VTK 705, it was likely used as a reference standard for the new project, and was sometimes (incorrectly) referred to in the press as a Jaguar Classic continuation car. Jaguar themselves referred to a ‘Car Zero’ as the pre-production prototype for the project, and the first Jaguar Classic production Continuation Car as ‘Car Number One’ - a short-nose car finished in Sherwood Green with Suede Green leather seats. Car Number One is now for sale with Jaguar for £1,750,000. Eventually, Jaguar Classic built a total of nine Continuation Cars in the early short-nose configuration, and sixteen in the later long-nose configuration.
Once Jaguar Classic had completed their D-Type Continuation series, VTK 705 was no longer required. The car was quietly sold at auction, understandably with no reference to its JLR history. In fact, since its creation the car has been part of several important collections, including the James Hull Collection, Jaguar Heritage, and John Burton.
After recent preparation at CKL, it is now ready for its next owner. As the only tool room copy D-Type to have been owned by Jaguar, the first to obtain an FIA HTP, and with the benefit of being currently road registered - this car presents its new owner with the opportunity to relive the glory days of 1950s sports car racing on both road and track.