24h Le Mans
The Jaguar D-Type that took overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956 has just become the most expensive British car in history! When it came under the hammer during Monterey Car Week in California last week, it sold for a whopping $21.78 million (€19.21 million or £16.64 million).
Until last weekend, an Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato held the record as the priciest British car ever at $14.3 million (£10.85 million). But now the splendid Jaguar D-Type D, in its iconic Ecurie Ecosse livery, has smashed that record. So why did it go for such a colossal sum? Well, the Jaguar is a real museum piece and was the absolute highlight of the RM Sotheby's auction at Monterey. It triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956 in very tough race conditions, marred by torrential rain. The D-Type also inspired the XKSS, produced from 1956 to 1957, one of the first ever supercars according to the collectors.
Ultimately, the Ecurie Ecosse D-Type sold for well over $20 million quite simply because there are very few opportunities to acquire a Le Mans-winning car from that era, especially in such extraordinary condition. It was driven in La Sarthe by two Scots, Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson, giving Jaguar the second of three straight Le Mans wins for the D-Type (1955, 1956 and 1957). That was 60 years ago, but the passion and the legend surrounding the race are still very much alive today.
Photo (RM Sotheby's): the sublime Ecurie Ecosse D-Type has become the most expensive British car ever sold at auction.
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