Beschreibung:

Here Bonhams & Butterfields is delighted to offer one of the most attractively presented classical ‘Shortnose’ D-Type Jaguar sports-racing cars it has ever been our privilege to handle, and during our auction team’s long history we have handled a considerable number – not only on the auction ramp, but also on circuit in successful racing competition…on three Continents. This gently patinated, tastefully restored Jaguar sports-racing car exemplifies all that was most impressive, most innovative – and perhaps above all most beautiful - about the legendary British manufacturer’s mid-’50s design. The immortal D-Type survives today as the supreme example of multiple Le Mans-winning, semi-monocoque frontier technology. The original series of ‘Shortnose’ D-Types such as this was based upon the original works car design which was only narrowly beaten into second place at Le Mans 1954 by a much larger-engined Ferrari V12. Further advanced ‘Longnose’ D-Type cars then humbled Ferrari – and all other rivals for that matter – in winning Le Mans twice, in 1955 and ’57 while the race fell in the year in between to the ex-works ‘Shortnose’ car campaigned by the charismatic Ecurie Ecosse team. Following in the wake of the works team cars’ enormous success, the ‘Shortnose’ D-Types were produced in numbers for sale to enthusiastic and capable ‘approved’ customers, and ‘XKD553’ offered here is one of this still select group of customer cars. It was completed in white painted livery in 1956 and was factory fitted with the small headrest tail fin normally optional on these cars. It was used briefly that year by the world-famous Coventry factory as a dealer-display D-Type before being shipped to the USA for its first owner ex-works, Indianapolis-based businessman/amateur racer Jack Ensley. He was President of Jaguar Midwest Distributors Inc and he had finished third in the World Championship-qualifying Sebring 12-Hours classic the previous year in a sister D-Type co-driven by USAC Indy track driver Bob Sweikert. This time round he entered his replacement car – ‘XKD553’, fresh from England – for the half-day race at Hendrick Field, Florida, on March 23, 1957. He had the car prepared for himself to co-drive with another USAC professional – the ‘Handsome Hoosier’; Indianapolis racing hero Pat O’Connor… This D-Type Jaguar was one of four FIA-sanctioned ‘Ds’ to contest that classic event. It wore race number ‘8’ that sunny day in Florida, no fewer than 49 years ago, but such is the ageless styling and beauty of the D-Type Jaguar that ‘XKD553’ offered here has retained all the attraction so much commented upon in period. Sebring 1957 saw the Ensley/O’Connor car run as high as 10th overall at the completion of the opening hour, but more experienced road racers began to forge forward and ‘553’s race was ended after some six hours - 50 laps - had been completed, reputedly when its rear axle failed. Late in 1957, Jack Ensley sold the car, reputedly to John C. Rueter – himself one of the earliest pioneers of American amateur road racing as a regular competitor in Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) competition driving a Bugatti and the famous ‘Old Gray Mare’ special. He went on to become a leading light of the postwar Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) during its formative years and was a successful author in his own right. Other sources suggest that the car was sold instead from Ensley to Dr H.E. Rollings, of Georgia, who finished third in a D-Type in a race at Courtland, Alabama, in July 1957. From Rueter or Rollings this car was then acquired by Edmund (Ed) Rahal of Savannah, Georgia, who campaigned it enthusiastically in SCCA south-eastern region events, 1957-61. It proved to be an extremely successful car in his hands, winning at least twice on the new road circuit at Daytona, Florida – once in September 1959 and again in January 1960. That latter race meeting was reputed to be the first occasion on which CBS Television had screened live automobile ro