• A fine example of an early Lynx built in 1979
• Recently the subject of an upgrade to XKSS specification
• Repainted in period-correct Sherwood Green
• Retrimmed in Tan leather
• A homage to the Jaguar ‘Continuation’ XKSS
• 3.4 litre XK engine rebuilt to 3.8 litre D-Type specification
• Interesting provenance with US racing history

It is remarkable to think that the XKSS didn’t evolve from the drawing board in the conventional way, and may not have existed at all had it not been for a problem Jaguar encountered with a stock of unsold D-Types following the company’s withdrawal from racing after the 1956 season. And yet the result, the XKSS remains one of the most iconic cars ever built; extremely rare, highly coveted by collectors and hugely valuable as a result, and of course a favourite of the King of Cool Steve McQueen.

The inspired solution was to convert these race cars to road cars, and make them user-friendly by removing the distinctive tail fin and adding a full-width windscreen, passenger door, folding hood, luggage rack and bumpers. The result was one the finest cars ever built; a subtle combination of road car and race car, and versatile enough to be used as both.

It was ironic that just sixteen cars had been converted to XKSS, when the infamous fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory destroyed the remaining nine unsold D-Types and the ‘problem’ was solved. It was these nine chassis numbers that Jaguar more recently revived for a limited edition of XKSS ‘continuation’ cars. Such was the demand that all nine were sold out immediately, despite the price tag of £1.7m.

Lynx was a company that originally specialised in the restoration of Jaguar C, D and XKSS. Such was their knowledge of these cars that when one of their customers, an owner of a D Type, asked if they could make a copy of his car for racing, they were ideally placed to do so, and in the late 1970s production of Lynx cars began.

The E-Type was used as a platform for the Lynx cars, and although it utilised Independent Rear Suspension, instead of the solid rear axle of the original D-Type family, Lynx always maintained that this is the technical direction the D would have followed had the E not been launched. Either way, IRS makes for a more useable and tractable road car.

By the time the original company closed its doors three decades later it had built around 50 Lynx cars, most of which were D-Types, with a handful of C-Types and XKSS. Subsequently some of the D-Types were returned to the factory to be converted into XKSS, much as the original cars had been in period.

The car offered here left the factory in 1979, as a D-Type in Ecurie Ecosse Blue. Unusually the 3.4 XK engine has been uprated to 3.8 litres and bears a plaque accrediting the rebuild to engineer Sam Edgar, who may have been Lynx employee or a later owner. Sold to a British customer, the car eventually found its way to the USA where it was raced extensively. There are photos in the history file of the car in action, and archive letters from the Lynx factory verifying the car to the owner at the time.

During the current ownership, the car has been upgraded to XKSS specification as part of a comprehensive restoration which includes a full repaint and retrim, and mechanical refresh. Inspired by Jaguar’s own ‘continuation’ XKSS, which utilised the unused chassis number of those XKSS destroyed in the Browns Lane fire, the owner chose the same period colour scheme of Sherwood Green and Tan.

Expertly restored by the team at D-Type Developments, who are renowned for their knowledge of C and D-Types, this Lynx XKSS is in superb condition both mechanically and cosmetically, and is ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.

£POA