GOODWOOD, England — When the 1955 Jaguar D-Type was introduced, it sold for just under $5,000. But an unnamed British buyer purchased the car for the equivalent of $4.4 million on Friday at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, setting what Bonhams auction house says is a new world record auction price for any Jaguar. Bonhams calls the car "one of the most original D-Types in existence."
"This betters the previous record set in 1999 of (the equivalent of $3.4 million)," Bonhams said in a statement. The auction house said it also set a new world record auction price for an Invicta sports car, garnering the equivalent of $833,651.
The 1955 3.4-liter Jaguar D-Type two-seater was part of the private automotive collection of Nigel Moores, the nephew of Sir John Moores, the creator of the Littlewoods business empire, which included department stores in the United Kingdom. "Considered to be the jewel in the crown of the collection, 'XKD 50' stayed with the family — some 33 years in all," said Bonhams in a statement. The rest of the collection, which included Ferraris and a Ford GT40, was sold in the late 1980s.
Noteworthy aspects of the D-Type sold at the auction include an original subframe and tub, as well as its original 3.4-liter competition engine with matching head and block. Jaguar XKD 509 was campaigned throughout the 1956 American racing season by Lou Brero Sr. The car competed in the 1956 Sebring 12 Hours, Elkhart Lake and Eagle Mountain, Texas, where it came in 2nd to Carroll Shelby's more powerful Ferrari 121LM.
What this means to you: Money apparently is no object when it comes to snagging one of the rarest Jags in the world. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
"This betters the previous record set in 1999 of (the equivalent of $3.4 million)," Bonhams said in a statement. The auction house said it also set a new world record auction price for an Invicta sports car, garnering the equivalent of $833,651.
The 1955 3.4-liter Jaguar D-Type two-seater was part of the private automotive collection of Nigel Moores, the nephew of Sir John Moores, the creator of the Littlewoods business empire, which included department stores in the United Kingdom. "Considered to be the jewel in the crown of the collection, 'XKD 50' stayed with the family — some 33 years in all," said Bonhams in a statement. The rest of the collection, which included Ferraris and a Ford GT40, was sold in the late 1980s.
Noteworthy aspects of the D-Type sold at the auction include an original subframe and tub, as well as its original 3.4-liter competition engine with matching head and block. Jaguar XKD 509 was campaigned throughout the 1956 American racing season by Lou Brero Sr. The car competed in the 1956 Sebring 12 Hours, Elkhart Lake and Eagle Mountain, Texas, where it came in 2nd to Carroll Shelby's more powerful Ferrari 121LM.
What this means to you: Money apparently is no object when it comes to snagging one of the rarest Jags in the world. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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