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{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox automobile
{{Infobox automobile
|image = File:1957 Jaguar XK-SS.jpg
| image = Jaguar 1956 XKSS (5678420041).jpg
|caption = Jaguar XKSS
| caption = Jaguar XKSS
|name=Jaguar XKSS
| name = Jaguar XKSS
|aka=Jaguar XK-SS
| aka = Jaguar XK-SS
|manufacturer=[[Jaguar Cars]]
| manufacturer = [[Jaguar Cars]]
| production = 1957 (official continuations in 2016–2017)
|production=1957<br/>2016-<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/jaguar/news/2016/03/jag_xkss_reborn_release_230316/?&locus=2|title=Jaguar to Build Iconic XKSS – ‘The World’s First Supercar’|work=Jaguar|access-date=2016-03-29}}</ref>
|assembly=Coventry, UKKKKK
| assembly = [[Coventry]], England
|successor=
| successor = [[Jaguar E-Type]]
|class=[[Sports car]]
| class = [[Sports car]]
|body_style=[[Roadster (automobile)|Roadster]]
| body_style = [[Roadster (automobile)|Roadster]]
|engine= 3.4L [[Jaguar XK6 engine]] I6
| engine = 3.4L [[Jaguar XK6 engine]] I6
|transmission=4 speed manual
| transmission = 4 speed manual
|wheelbase= {{convert|2300|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| wheelbase = {{convert|2300|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|axle_track= {{convert|1270|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} / {{convert|1219|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|3990|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1660|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|length= {{convert|3990|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1120|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|width= {{convert|1660|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|921|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
⚫
| related = [[Jaguar D-Type]]
|height= {{convert|1120|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
⚫
| sp = uk
|weight= {{convert|921|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
⚫
|related=[[Jaguar D-Type]]
⚫
|sp=uk
}}
}}


The '''Jaguar XKSS''' is a road-going version of the [[Jaguar D-Type]] racing car, initially built in 1957. Only 16 were built and sold at the time.<ref name=jag>[https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/news/2017/11/jaguar-classic-xkss-continuation-crowned-car-year-2017-octane-awards https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/news/2017/11/jaguar-classic-xkss-continuation-crowned-car-year-2017-octane-awards "Jaguar Classic XKSS Continuation Crowned Car of the Year at 2017 Octane Awards", ''Jaguar.com'']</ref> Nine chassis were destroyed in a factory fire in 1957 before they could be completed. In 2016 Jaguar announced that a small production run of nine "continuation" XKSS reproductions would be hand-built to the original specifications to complete the originally scheduled run of 25.<ref>{{Cite web|title=THE 'NEW ORIGINAL': JAGUAR XKSS MAKES WORLD DEBUT IN LOS ANGELES {{!}} Jaguar Homepage International|url=https://media.jaguar.com/news/2016/11/new-original-jaguar-xkss-makes-world-debut-los-angeles|access-date=2021-07-27|website=media.jaguar.com}}</ref>
The '''Jaguar XKSS''' is a road-going version of the [[Jaguar D-Type]] racing car, initially built in 1957. A small production run by Jaguar produced the remaining 9 of the scheduled production of 25 XKSS, launched in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/jaguar/news/2016/03/jag_xkss_reborn_release_230316/?&locus=2|title=Jaguar to Build Iconic XKSS – ‘The World’s First Supercar’|work=Jaguar|access-date=2016-03-29}}</ref>


==History==
Following [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]]'s withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1956 season, a number of completed and partly completed D-types remained unsold at the Browns Lane factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building these unused [[chassis]], and to exploit the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars, [[William Lyons|Sir William Lyons]] decided to convert a number to road-going specification. Only minor changes were made to the basic D-type structure: the addition of a passenger side door; the removal of the large fin behind the driver; and the removal of the divider between passenger and driver seats. In addition, changes were made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons: a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen was added; sidescreens were added to both driver and passenger doors; a rudimentary, folding, fabric roof was added for weather protection; chromed bumpers were added front and rear (a styling cue later used on the [[Jaguar E-type|E-type]]); [[Jaguar XK140|XK140]] rear light clusters were mounted higher on the wings; and thin chrome strips were added to the edges of the front light fairings.
Following [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]]'s withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1956 season, a number of {{citation needed span|text=completed and partly completed|reason=This claim needs its own legitimate citation, detailing to what extent.|date=March 2024}} [[Jaguar D-Type|D-types]] remained unsold at the [[Browns Lane]] factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building unused [[chassis]], and to exploit the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars, Sir [[William Lyons]] decided to convert a number of to road-going specification. Structural changes would include the removal of the bulkhead creating a single driver's cockpit, elimination of the large fin behind the driver, and addition of a passenger side door. In addition, numerous changes were required to be made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons to turn a basic D-type a race car design into a street-legal passenger car. These included creating a full two-abreast interior; adding a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen; adding sidescreens to both driver and passenger doors; creating a rudimentary, folding, fabric roof; adding chromed front and rear bumpers; and mounting [[XK140]] rear light clusters high on the wings; and adding thin chrome strips to the edges of the front light fairings.


On the evening of 12 February 1957, a fire broke out at the [[Browns Lane]] plant destroying nine of the twenty-five cars that had already been completed or were semi-completed. Most of the surviving 16 XKSSs were sold in the US.
By early 1957 a total of 16 of the planned production run of 25 XKSS's had been completed at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant. On the evening of 12 February a fire broke out, destroying the remaining nine {{citation needed span|text=in mid-production.|reason=This claim needs its own legitimate citation, detailing to what extent.|date=March 2024}} All of the destroyed vehicles had been destined for North America.<ref name=jag/> Most of the previously built 16 XKSSs were also sold in the US.{{cn|date=March 2021}}


In March 2016, Jaguar announced that it would be completing the original 25 car order from 1957 by building from scratch the remaining 9 cars destroyed by the plant fire. The cars are expected to sell for more than £1 million each.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/03/22/jaguar-land-rover-new-york-international-auto-show/82119978/|title=Jaguar to make $1.4M XKSS performance car envisioned by founder|website=USA TODAY|access-date=2016-03-28}}</ref>
In March 2016, Jaguar announced that it would be completing the original 25 car order by hand-building the remaining nine XKSS roadsters to the exact original specification, and assigning them the chassis numbers of the destroyed cars. The "continuation" reproductions were expected to sell for more than £1 million each.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/03/22/jaguar-land-rover-new-york-international-auto-show/82119978/|title=Jaguar to make $1.4M XKSS performance car envisioned by founder|website=USA TODAY|access-date=2016-03-28}}</ref>

{{Gallery
| title =
| align = center
| footer =
| style =
| state =
| height =
| width =
| captionstyle =
|File:1956 Jaguar XK SS Roadster (30773530658).jpg|1956 XKSS Roadster
|File:1957 Jaguar XK SS roadster (6105403713).jpg|Completely restored 1957 XKSS interior
|File:Concorso Eleganza Villa d'Este 2013 (8847138432).jpg|1956 Rear view
}}

{{-}}


== Collectors ==
== Collectors ==
[[File:1957 Jaguar XKSS photo2.JPG|thumb|XKSS at the [[Louwman Museum]]]]
⚫
The American actor [[Steve McQueen]] owned a Jaguar XKSS for personal use, painted [[British racing green]]. He referred to the car as the "Green Rat".<ref name=mcqueen>{{cite book|last=Stone|first=Matt|title=McQueen's Machines|year=2007|publisher=MBI Publishing|location=Minneapolis, MN|isbn=978-0-7603-3895-7|pages=31–40}}</ref><ref name= "Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS - Jay Leno's Garage">{{cite av media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ai0uSj_OVE|title=Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS - Jay Leno's Garage|author=|date=25 May 2014|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> In 2010 and 2011 it toured the United States as part of the "Allure of the Automobile" exhibit. Steve McQueen's XKSS is currently on display in Los Angeles, California at the [[Petersen Automotive Museum]].

⚫
The American actor [[Steve McQueen]] owned a Jaguar XKSS for personal use, painted [[British racing green]]. He referred to the car as the "Green Rat".<ref name=mcqueen>{{cite book|last=Stone|first=Matt|title=McQueen's Machines|year=2007|publisher=MBI Publishing|location=Minneapolis, MN|isbn=978-0-7603-3895-7|pages=31–40}}</ref><ref name= "Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS - Jay Leno's Garage">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ai0uSj_OVE|title=Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS - Jay Leno's Garage|author=|date=25 May 2014|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> In 2010 and 2011 it toured the United States as part of the "Allure of the Automobile" exhibit. Steve McQueen's XKSS is currently on display in Los Angeles, California at the [[Petersen Automotive Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rong|first=Blake Z.|date=2014-04-20|title=Retracing Steve McQueen's Los Angeles in his Jaguar XKSS|url=http://autoweek.com/car-life/a1894306/retracing-steve-mcqueens-los-angeles-his-jaguar-xkss/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Autoweek|language=en-US}}</ref>


Another XKSS, along with a D-type and [[Jaguar C-Type|C-type]], formed the pinnacle of the [[James Hull]] collection, a collection of 450 British cars sold for an estimated £100 million in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news
Another XKSS, along with a D-type and [[Jaguar C-Type|C-type]], formed the pinnacle of the [[James Hull]] collection, a collection of 450 British cars sold for an estimated £100 million in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news
Line 41: Line 59:
|date=14 May 2014
|date=14 May 2014
|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4ab9df2c-db6b-11e3-94ad-00144feabdc0.html#axzz32pezfWSx
|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4ab9df2c-db6b-11e3-94ad-00144feabdc0.html#axzz32pezfWSx
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
|title=Dentist who has so many cars he keeps them in enormous warehouses is selling his 450 classic vehicles for MILLION
|date=16 May 2014
|newspaper=Daily Mail
|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2630564/Vroom-view-Dentist-cars-keeps-enormous-warehouses-selling-450-classic-vehicles-100-MILLION.html
}}</ref> Other XKSS include XKSS 722 at the [[Louwman Museum]] in [[The Hague]].<ref >{{Cite web
}}</ref> Other XKSS include XKSS 722 at the [[Louwman Museum]] in [[The Hague]].<ref >{{Cite web
|title=Jaguar XKSS
|title=Jaguar XKSS
|website=[[Louwman Museum]]
|website=[[Louwman Museum]]
|date=5 September 2013
|url=https://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/Ontdekken/Ontdek-de-collectie/jaguar-xkss
|url=https://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/Ontdekken/Ontdek-de-collectie/jaguar-xkss
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ai0uSj_OVE Road test] of [[Petersen Automotive Museum|The Peterson Museum]]'s XKSS at [[Jay Leno's Garage]]
{{Commons category|Jaguar XK-SS|position=left}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Jaguar XK-SS}}


{{Jaguar}}
{{Jaguar}}

Latest revision as of 22:48, 24 May 2024

Jaguar XKSS
Jaguar XKSS
Overview
ManufacturerJaguar Cars
Also calledJaguar XK-SS
Production1957 (official continuations in 2016–2017)
AssemblyCoventry, England
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body styleRoadster
RelatedJaguar D-Type
Powertrain
Engine3.4L Jaguar XK6 engine I6
Transmission4 speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,300 mm (90.6 in)
Length3,990 mm (157.1 in)
Width1,660 mm (65.4 in)
Height1,120 mm (44.1 in)
Kerb weight921 kg (2,030 lb)
Chronology
SuccessorJaguar E-Type

The Jaguar XKSS is a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type racing car, initially built in 1957. Only 16 were built and sold at the time.[1] Nine chassis were destroyed in a factory fire in 1957 before they could be completed. In 2016 Jaguar announced that a small production run of nine "continuation" XKSS reproductions would be hand-built to the original specifications to complete the originally scheduled run of 25.[2]

History

[edit]

Following Jaguar's withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1956 season, a number of completed and partly completed[citation needed] D-types remained unsold at the Browns Lane factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building unused chassis, and to exploit the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars, Sir William Lyons decided to convert a number of to road-going specification. Structural changes would include the removal of the bulkhead creating a single driver's cockpit, elimination of the large fin behind the driver, and addition of a passenger side door. In addition, numerous changes were required to be made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons to turn a basic D-type a race car design into a street-legal passenger car. These included creating a full two-abreast interior; adding a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen; adding sidescreens to both driver and passenger doors; creating a rudimentary, folding, fabric roof; adding chromed front and rear bumpers; and mounting XK140 rear light clusters high on the wings; and adding thin chrome strips to the edges of the front light fairings.

By early 1957 a total of 16 of the planned production run of 25 XKSS's had been completed at Jaguar's Browns Lane plant. On the evening of 12 February a fire broke out, destroying the remaining nine in mid-production.[citation needed] All of the destroyed vehicles had been destined for North America.[1] Most of the previously built 16 XKSSs were also sold in the US.[citation needed]

In March 2016, Jaguar announced that it would be completing the original 25 car order by hand-building the remaining nine XKSS roadsters to the exact original specification, and assigning them the chassis numbers of the destroyed cars. The "continuation" reproductions were expected to sell for more than £1 million each.[3]

  • 1956 XKSS Roadster
    1956 XKSS Roadster
  • Completely restored 1957 XKSS interior
    Completely restored 1957 XKSS interior
  • 1956 Rear view
    1956 Rear view

Collectors

[edit]
XKSS at the Louwman Museum

The American actor Steve McQueen owned a Jaguar XKSS for personal use, painted British racing green. He referred to the car as the "Green Rat".[4][5] In 2010 and 2011 it toured the United States as part of the "Allure of the Automobile" exhibit. Steve McQueen's XKSS is currently on display in Los Angeles, California at the Petersen Automotive Museum.[6]

Another XKSS, along with a D-type and C-type, formed the pinnacle of the James Hull collection, a collection of 450 British cars sold for an estimated £100 million in 2014.[7] Other XKSS include XKSS 722 at the Louwman Museum in The Hague.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/news/2017/11/jaguar-classic-xkss-continuation-crowned-car-year-2017-octane-awards "Jaguar Classic XKSS Continuation Crowned Car of the Year at 2017 Octane Awards", Jaguar.com
  2. ^ "THE 'NEW ORIGINAL': JAGUAR XKSS MAKES WORLD DEBUT IN LOS ANGELES | Jaguar Homepage International". media.jaguar.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Jaguar to make $1.4M XKSS performance car envisioned by founder". USA TODAY. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  4. ^ Stone, Matt (2007). McQueen's Machines. Minneapolis, MN: MBI Publishing. pp. 31–40. ISBN 978-0-7603-3895-7.
  5. ^ Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS - Jay Leno's Garage. 25 May 2014 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Rong, Blake Z. (20 April 2014). "Retracing Steve McQueen's Los Angeles in his Jaguar XKSS". Autoweek. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. ^ Henry Foy (14 May 2014). "Huge classic car collection up for sale". FT.
  8. ^ "Jaguar XKSS". Louwman Museum. 5 September 2013.
[edit]
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