1955 Jaguar D-Type to break British car record?

The 1955 Jaguar D-Type that won the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans is selling at RM Sotheby's.

Identified as chassis number XKD 501, the lot will be among the highlights of the Monterey auction on August 19-20.

Jaguar XKCD 501
The Jaguar XKD 501 raced to victory in the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans

Scottish drivers Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart were behind the wheel for the race.

They achieved a phenomenal average speed of 105mph over 2,500 miles to finish a full lap ahead of the competition.

The car itself has since been rigorously restored and maintained.

The auction house describes it "the most important Jaguar racing car ever made".

Shelby Myers, RM Sotheby's car specialist, explains: "XKD 501 is without question one of the world's most significant competition cars.  

"It has an incredible racing pedigree, having won the most gruelling contest in sports car racing, the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, and importantly, is without any stories.

"What's more is its amazing originality; pure in terms of body, chassis and engine, there is no other Le Mans winner from this period that is as original as this car."

There is no estimate available for the lot, but its storied history means it's likely to beat the Jaguar record $5m paid for another 1955 D-Type in a 2014 sale.

It should also beat the world record for a British car at auction, set at $14.3m by a 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato last year.

RM Sotheby's will also offer the first ever Shelby Cobra in what is shaping up to be one of the biggest Monterey sales ever.

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