1955 Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D-Type

High-performance automobile manufacturers eager for reputation directed the attention of their most gifted engineers towards the Le Mans GP d’Endurance 24-hours races in the 1950s. Well-

organized, often richly-endowed factory teams battled for supremacy in a series of epic battles. Jaguar’s magnificent legend was built and established at Le Mans where their initial C-type specialized roadsters first won in both 1951 and 1953. For 1954 a far more sophisticated sports racing car was developed and became known as the D-type.

At Le Mans that year, the leading Jaguar factory-team car of Rolt and Hamilton ran a gallant second behind the mighty 4.9-liter Ferrari V12 of Gonzales and Trintignant. The winning speed average at Le Mans was 105.1 mph, but Jaguar quickly had their revenge a few weeks later when the D-types came in first and second at the 12-hours of Reims at an average of 104.55 mph. In the 1955 Le Mans, the Jaguar factory returned to...