Iconic Race Cars / #8

jazzye (32)in #cars • 7 years ago (edited)

Body designed by an ex-aeronautical engineer, aluminum chassis, four wheel disk brakes. This car was way ahead of its time.

The car? Jaguar D-Type

A major focus was put on aerodynamic efficiency, even going so far as placing the engine at an angle, to reduce frontal area. Adding vertical fin behind the driver improved high-speed stability on LeMans Mulsanne straight.

D-Type won both LeMans and 12 hours of Sebring in 1955. It also won LeMans in 1956 and 1957

The engine shares basic straight-6 XK engine and many mechanical components with the C-type. Displacement was enlarged from 3.4 liters to 3.8 liters in 1957.

Did you know?
A 1955 model was sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2016 for $19,800,000.