Description
1964 Jaguar D-Type - Mike Hawthorn’s 1955 Le Mans Winning “Tribute” Version.
Jaguar D-Type’s, in their “original” form, of which “only” 71, were ever manufactured, supposedly totalled 18 factory race cars and 53 privateer cars and therefore, are extremely scarce and very sought after and whenever, they ever do come onto the open market, tend to fetch many millions of dollars.
Not surprising really, as they were the next truly British manufacturer to repeat the “Bentley Boys” feat, of the late 1920’s, by winning the arduous, world famous, Le Mans 24 hour Sports Car Race, an amazing 3 times in succession , in the mid. 1950’s- (1955-1957), until Ford achieved it yet again, just over 10 years later.
As so often happens, with these very rare and highly sought after, factory sports racing cars, they are quite usually the subject of numerous “copies”, made by various engineering companies. And, as such, this particular “Tribute” model sports car, is one such example, being one of the “world-renowned” Adrian Reynard designed, of “Indy-car” fame, “Realm Engineering” cars, carrying a “certificate of authenticity”, and very famously being described by both the Sir(s) Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham, as being as good, or even better, than the “originals” which they both actually used to drive in period and one of the most desirable re-incarnations, that they’ve ever had the privilege, to road test, being quite frequently mistaken , for the Le Mans Sports Cars, that they themselves, used to drive.
580 FUF, now offered here, registered 16-04-1964 and now being of collectable interest, and coming complete with a very comprehensive, history file, to show all records of servicing/ invoicing and various expenditure, over the past 60years and also past 20+ years, of our ownership and included with this “date-related” number plate and current V5C Registration Document, confirming its “historical” status, now forms part of our private “Campbell” Museum of “Record Breakers”, which indeed it is, even famous record breaker Richard Noble, is known to have owned and enthused about these “Adrian Reynard” designed D-Type’s and this particular “Tribute” car, is now presented in wonderfully patenated correct colour version of BRG-(British Racing Green), with matching green leather interior trim, 4-point blue, “villains” blue racing harnesses , to both driver’s and passenger’s seats, with “quick-release” racing detachable, “press-button” locks, fully “fixed-in” fire- extinguisher, period “smiths instrumentation”, D-Type Jaguar emblemed period “wood-rimmed” steering wheel, full width”wrap-around” plexiglass-glass windshield, first seen on these Le Mans Works Cars, in 1955, c/ w complete with an all-weather, leather, “fitted” tonneau protection cover, which fastens securely to the steel-braced bodywork.
The world-renowned “Realm Chassis”, was constructed to the very highest of standards and features, the tried and tested, multi-tubular, steel-backboned, space-frame and strengthened chassis, featuring carbon-Kevlar and Composite, fire-retardant, lightweight, re-inforced, steel- braced, fibreglass bodywork, which over the years, has now become “wonderfully” patenated and shows - off, the extensive “riveting” used to join the body panels together, for both lightness and ease of replacement, in racings environment.
The 5-speed manual “get rag” , all synchromesh, close-ratio gearbox, is coupled to a comprehensively rebuilt, 4. 2 litre, straight six Jaguar engine, which has been fully- balanced, timed, ported and polished and then “rolling-road” tuned- all “dyno” sheets available - to produce, in excess of 250 B. H. P. , breathing through, “fully-balanced” and tuned, re-conditioned, side-draft, “triple” Weber Carburettors, The complete exhaust system, which now exits from the L. H. S. of the vehicle, with its “twin” black, “side-exit”, enlarged bored-out pipes, in stainless-steel, now emits a “throaty” roar, but still complying with all newly introduced, racing decibel limits. There is also a “high-flow” aluminium radiator, with “Kenlowe” fan, as well as “fully-adjustable” front and rear suspension, to suit all different types of racing circuits or road endurance terrain. The period 15” Dunlop Racing tyres are mated to the correct “split-rim”, steel and alloy, D-Type, lightweight wheels, complete with polished chrome “quick-release” spinners, helping the car to deal with all types of different road/ track conditions and with the xj12 Powerlok, limited slip-differential and servo-assisted front brakes, all based almost exclusively on 1964 Jaguar running gear, unlike some of its rivals.
With the factory claiming a 0-60MPH figure, depending on gearing and engine tune, of 5. 9 sec. and a max. speed of 155 MPH, stunning figures, even by to-day’s standards, this surely is a truly unique opportunity to own, one of the world’s most desirable sports racing cars, at a fraction of the cost, of one of the 71 original examples and now presented in superb pristineThis lovely sports racing car is now, “on-the- button “ and ready for its new owner, to continue to love, look after, cherish and enjoy, as all these many photographs show
