Jaguar resurrects the iconic 1957 XKSS.

Resurrections are a rare occurrence in the world of classic cars, but Jaguar are bucking the trend. The firm recently confirmed that they are reviving the iconic XKSS, a car last built in 1957, when Jaguar had just retired from racing as a factory team. Seen by many as the world’s first supercar, the XKSS is the road-going version of the famous D-type racing car; it has a 3.4l, 250 bhp engine, can reach speeds of 150mph and will do 0-60 in around 5.2 seconds. This isn’t, however, a refurbishment project, or the release of a modern day reimagining. These cars will be brand new, faithfully built to the same specifications as their 59 year old counterparts. In the collector’s world, it’s a highly coveted machine – not least because of its rarity. Of the original order of 25, nine were destroyed in the infamous Browns factory fire. 59 years later, Jaguar are making good on that order.

Jaguar XKSS

An original Jaguar XKSS. Photograph: Jaguar Land Rover North America

The revival of the XKSS follows the success of a similar project in 2015, where Jaguar brought a limited number of E-types back to life. These were ‘Special FT’ Lightweight E-types with aluminium bodies, last made in 1964. The backstory was not dissimilar from the XKSS; Jaguar had planned to build 18, but delivered only 12, the unbuilt cars acquiring the ghostly moniker The Missing Six. With production costs of the six new E-type’s reportedly climbing “deep in to seven figures”, the new E-types commanded prices in excess of £1.2 million each. The lesser known, but equally desirable XKSS’s are expected to fetch similar prices.

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Steve McQueen in his original Jaguar XKSS

One owner of note was The King of Cool, Steve McQueen, who counted the XKSS among his most beloved cars. Today, his particular model is the most sought-after Jaguar ever built, valued in excess of $30 million. Needless to say, it’s now a museum piece. The 9 new models will likewise be for serious collectors only: the considerable price tag notwithstanding, the new XKSS models won’t be road legal. The faithful reproduction means the cars won’t comply with present-day safety and emissions regulations, so they’ll be confined to the track.

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