Built on the basis of unsold former Type D racing cars, the Jaguar XKSS is one of the brand's rarest models. The fire that ravaged the factory in 1957 didn't help matters...
On 12 February 1957, disaster struck at Jaguar's Browns Lane factory in Coventry. A massive fire engulfed the factory and hundreds of cars went up in smoke, including 9 XKSSs built for the American market. This disaster put an end to the production of a model that was, to say the least, confidential, having been born of competition. In 1954, Jaguar presented the D-Type, a competition car whose primary aim was to shine at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was the case the following year, in 1956 and 1957, crowning the firm with glory.
A fast one!
Under the bonnet, we find the XK 6-cylinder engine in its 3.4-litre version. This block is fed by a bank of 3 Weber carburettors and has a wild angle Type C cylinder head. It produced around 250 bhp, which was very comfortable for the time. Weighing just 900 kg, the XKSS was capable of reaching a top speed of 240 km/h.
McQueen's favourite
Of the 16 cars built before the factory fire, almost all were exported to the United States. One of them was owned by actor Steve McQueen, a great fan of beautiful cars. ‘The King of Cool’ loved his XKSS, which he affectionately christened “The Green Rat”, so much that he completely customised it with a new colour scheme to his liking, a personalised interior and many other unique details. This car, which he kept until his death, still exists today and can be seen at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.
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Adored by collectors who appreciate its rarity, the XKSS has seen its price tag rise to several million euros. Numerous replicas have also been produced, with a degree of fidelity that varies greatly according to the budget that has been allocated. In 2016, Jaguar produced a new series of 9 XKSS ‘Continuation’ cars, which are unfortunately not road legal...
