From Jaguar Sports Racing Cars by Philip Porter

Prototype D-Type and first to be completed. First tested on April 13th, 1954 at Lindley and at Silverstone on May 3rd, 1954. Le Mans testing occurred on May 8th 1954 where it set an unofficial lap record. Further frequent testing at Gaydon and Lindley. On May 25th 1954 Stirling Moss tested the car in the evening; on the 27th it was filmed for television with Tony Rolt driving.

Development testing continued into late 1954. On February 3rd, 1955 the car was taken to Silverstone for driver's tests. On February 14th 1954 it was used at MIRA for BBC recording. Additionally the car was used for testing tires and evaluating the ZF differential.

In mid-1955 the car was fitted with a de Dion rear suspension which was later removed.

The car was never raced and was retained by Jaguar. It was lent for many years to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, United Kingdom. It was also displayed by Jaguar at the 1958 and 1966 Geneva Motor Shows. In recent years it has been displayed in the reception/showroom at Browns Lane.

Some work was done on the car in the 1980s by John Pearson. It is owned by the Jaguar/Daimler Heritage Trust.

Philip Porter is the author of numerous books on the Jaguar marque. In additional to writing books and magazine articles and managing several businesses, he runs the XK Club and E-Type club from Worcestershire, England. His latest books include the Jaguar Scrapbook and the Stirling Moss 1929 - 1954 Scrapbook.

© Porter & Porter