Jaguar D-Type XKD 551 on the inaugural Zürich Auction block

Every so often, a car crosses the block that reminds you why vintage motorsport still makes hearts race. This is one of those moments. The Jaguar D-Type coming to Broad Arrow’s inaugural Zürich Auction on November 1, 2025, at the Dolder Grand is chassis XKD 551—one of just 71 built, a late-production short-nose car, and almost unbelievably, an example that has never turned a competitive wheel. That rarity is matched by its integrity: XKD 551 carries matching engine and chassis numbers, recently reunited after a careful preservation-first rebuild, and it’s been meticulously maintained by its Swiss custodian for the last three decades.

Broad Arrow’s estimate of CHF 5,250,000–6,250,000 ($6,509,212.50-$7,749,062.50) feels entirely rational for a car that checks provenance, condition, originality, and eligibility in one arresting, numbers-stamped package. For the Jaguar D-Type faithful, this is the one that got away—for everyone else, it’s the kind of blue-chip you buy once.

Jaguar D-Type: design DNA, engineering, and the 1956 spec

The Jaguar D-Type was the most forward-thinking sports-racer of its day, marrying an aircraft-style aluminum monocoque center tub to a tubular front subframe and draping it in impossibly pure, wind-cheated coachwork. Disc brakes from Dunlop were standard, high-speed stability was aided by that signature vertical fin, and under the bonnet sat Jaguar’s race-proven XK straight-six with a wide-angle head, 3.4 liters in period, breathing through competition induction and exhaling through side-exit pipes. XKD 551 is a late short-nose example built in 1956, the configuration many privateers preferred for its compact frontal area and clean cooling airflow.

That makes it notably different from the long-nose works cars that appeared for Le Mans in 1955; while the factory chased ultimate top speed with extended bodywork, customer cars like this retained the more agile profile without sacrificing the D-Type’s near-180-mph potential and bulletproof stamina. In short, you’re getting the distilled essence of the Jaguar D-Type—light, lithe, and engineered for the win.

Jaguar D-Type: storylines, stewardship, and eligibility

Delivered new in 1957, XKD 551 took an unusual, wonderfully human detour when its first private owner converted it to semi-XKSS form—removing the central bulkhead, adding a passenger door, and fitting a full-width windscreen—essentially domesticating a big-cat racer for the road. Its subsequent keepers are a roll call of enthusiasts with real gasoline in their veins, including the Hon. James Dawnay (of Aston Martin DBR1/1 fame) and Australian Formula 1 driver Paul Hawkins.

In the 1970s, the car was sensitively returned to authentic Jaguar D-Type specification. To protect originality, the original XK engine (E 2070-9) was removed and preserved; it was professionally rebuilt in 2005, then kept in storage until recently, when XKD 551 was reunited with its matching-numbers heart and serviced by Switzerland’s respected Graber Sportgarage in readiness for sale. Documentation is as handsome as the car: a previous FIA Historical Identity Form (1992), FIA Passport (2009), and FIVA Identity Card (2012) support its history, and it’s eligible for the crown-jewel events—Goodwood Revival, Le Mans Classic, Monaco Historic, Mille Miglia Storica, Silverstone Classic, Spa Classic—the sort of calendar that turns a purchase into a lifetime of invitations.

Jaguar D-Type: value case, specification highlights, and how to play it

Let’s talk numbers. Beyond the CHF 5.25–6.25 million estimate, the value case for XKD 551 rests on four pillars: production rarity at 71 cars, unraced status that’s almost unheard-of in the model, matching engine and chassis numbers now reunited, and continuity of expert care with a single Swiss owner since 1994. Add in the 1956 short-nose configuration, period-correct specification, and that roster of eligibility, and this Jaguar D-Type compares favorably to the best recent sales.

For the buyer who intends to drive, the lightweight aluminum monocoque, Dunlop discs, competition suspension, and race-tuned XK straight-six promise the authentic D-Type experience—linear torque, long-legged gearing, and the kind of high-speed stability that made Coventry a Le Mans legend. For the buyer who intends to curate, XKD 551 is the definition of market-resilient: correct, documented, and instantly understood by anyone who knows what they’re looking at.

Bidding opens in Zürich on November 1; given the car’s Swiss residency, its meticulous recent service, and the pristine venue, expect vigorous interest from both European and global collectors. Miss it, and you’ll wait years to try again.

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