2014-01-12 20:16:33 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 3/14
www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2014-03-08/car/jaguar-d-type.aspx

Auction description:
1976 Jaguar D-Type 'Long Nose' by RAM Engineering
Registration ORO 25P
Chassis Number 3A.3176DN
Engine Number ZA.7316-9
Odometer reading 8,200 miles
Estimate £36,000 - £42,000

The Jaguar D-Type was a 190mph technical masterpiece and has a very special place in
motoring history. As a purpose built racing car, its achievements were outstanding, particularly at Le Mans. To succeed at Le Mans was to succeed in the world of car sales; first raced there in 1954 achieving 2nd place and then winning three times in a row in 1955, 1956 and 1957, the car became an instant classic. Not only was it designed and built entirely within Jaguar but it utilised early streamlining to devastating effect. This racing heritage has created a healthy demand for replicas of these rare and exotic works sports-racers. But whereas the production Jaguar D-Type was limited to using the 3.4-litre version of the XK engine, the biggest available at the time, replica manufacturers and builders are afforded the luxury of choosing either of the two larger XK sizes introduced subsequently; the '3.8' or '4.2' which, even when mildly tuned, are easily capable of exceeding the original's 250bhp maximum output.

That, however, is the last time the word 'mildly tuned' can realistically be used in this description. The story begins some 23 years ago when a father and son decided, quite reasonably, that it would be a good idea to build a car together. Even more fortunately, the father was not only a professional engineer but had a scrupulous eye for detail and innovation. The parts were acquired from LR Roadsters with the 3.8 litre engine from the donor car, a 1963 Jaguar Mk. X, with a bespoke space frame chassis. The engine was then completely stripped and up-rated with new bearings, new lightened and balanced big end, new Cosworth pistons and a lightened flywheel by VSE which also has straight-port head bronze valve guides and large inlet/exhaust valves. This was then tested for power and at 5000rpm was comfortably pushing out 290bhp through the back wheels. The dyno machine would not accept higher revs but over 300bhp is thought to be attainable. The carburettors are the desirable triple Weber DCOE9's with short trumpets with a straight through stainless-steel exhaust collecting the gasses on the other side. The four-pot brakes and gearbox are stock XJS items and the rear differential utilises a 3.54:1 high performance ratio.

Constructed around a tubular-steel backbone space frame chassis coated in specialist POR15 weatherproofing, this D-Type features fibreglass bodywork in the long nose, a long fin with full-width windscreen first seen on the works Le Mans cars in 1955, while the wheels are the correct Dunlop steel items with brand new Vredestein rubber all round. Finished in British Racing Green with tan leather interior, this authentic looking D-Type replica has covered only 8200 miles since its construction and is supplied with a V5C registration document, history file as well as an MoT test certificate valid until March 2015. This immensely powerful D-Type has comfortably out-performed anything that has dared to draw up beside it at the traffic lights, as well as being able to reliably take the owner and his wife to visit Spa, Le Mans and other more local circuits.