The 1957 Jaguar XKSS was a race automobile transformed for street use and produced in restricted numbers. One of many few examples ever constructed is slated to be auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s on the firm’s Monterey Automobile Week sale, scheduled for Aug. 17-19.

The XKSS is predicated on the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Sort. After profitable Le Mans with the D-Sort two years in a row, Jaguar selected to withdraw from racing on the finish of the 1956 season. That left some spare D-Sort chassis, which administration determined to transform into street vehicles.

Jaguar modified the bodywork, dropping the distinct fin and including primary facilities, together with a passenger door, a windshield, aspect curtains, and a folding prime, however the firm stored the inline-6 engine and different mechanical {hardware}. The end result was a road-going model of a still-competitive race automobile. The D-Sort went on to win Le Mans once more in 1957 with the privateer Ecurie Ecosse workforce.

A manufacturing run of 25 vehicles was initially deliberate, however a hearth at Jaguar’s manufacturing unit destroyed 9 chassis, decreasing the ultimate whole to 16. Jaguar did a run of 9 continuation vehicles in 2016 to “full” the manufacturing run.

The automobile up for public sale—chassis quantity XKSS 707—was initially imported to the U.S. Leaving the manufacturing unit in cream over purple leather-based, it was purchased by racer Lou Brero Sr., who died in a crash earlier than taking supply. The automobile was subsequently bought to seller Sammy Weiss, whose Sacramento dealership bought it to San Francisco resident and racer Sidney Colberg in 1960.

Colberg stored the XKSS for 15 years earlier than promoting it to British fanatic Anthony Bamford (later Lord Bamford). XKSS 707 has lived within the U.Okay. ever since, buying and selling fingers a couple of occasions. Over time, the unique hood, dented in racing incidents, was changed and the automobile was repainted to its present metallic blue—a nod to the Ecurie Ecosse race vehicles.

A lot of the automobile remains to be unique, together with a lot of the bodywork, the engine block and head, and even two of the three carburetors, in response to the public sale itemizing. The odometer reveals 25,535 miles, which is regarded as the precise lifetime mileage.

An unique XKSS doesn’t come up for public sale fairly often, which explains the estimated $12 million to $14 million sale value for this one. Remember the fact that even Jaguar’s continuation vehicles bought for $1.5 million every when new.

HIGH-RES GALLERY: 1957 Jaguar XKSS (photograph through RM Sotheby’s)

This text was initially printed by Motor Authority, an editorial accomplice of ClassicCars.com