Monterey-bound continuation cars

author: FutureCar Staff    

Jaguar is showcasing its classic C-Type and D-Type continuation cars at Monterey Car Week to remind potential customers of their availability. The automaker's Jaguar Classic division is displaying these cars at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and the Rolex Motorsports Reunion, two prominent events during Monterey Car Week. This marks the first time Jaguar Classic has exhibited cars at this event since 2018.

Continuation cars are different from replicas as they are considered a continuation of the original production run. Jaguar introduced this concept with its six Lightweight E-Type continuation cars in 2014 and 2015. Originally, 18 cars were planned, but only 12 were built during that time. Jaguar later decided to create six additional cars.

Jaguar applied the same concept to the D-Type, announcing in 2018 that they would complete the original planned production run of 100 cars by building 25 more. The D-Type was renowned for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans three years in a row from 1955 to 1957. However, production was halted before reaching 100 cars, and some remaining D-Type chassis were converted into XKSS road cars. A continuation series of the XKSS was later created to replace nine cars destroyed in a fire at Jaguar's Browns Lane factory in 1957.

The C-Type, which preceded the D-Type, is also a Le Mans winner, securing first place in 1951 and 1953. The continuation version of the C-Type, based on the 1953 Le Mans winner, features pioneering disc brakes. Jaguar plans to build 16 continuation cars, in addition to the original 53-car run.

Each continuation car is meticulously hand-built, taking over 3,000 hours of craftsmanship. Jaguar has not disclosed the prices for these cars, but they offer buyers an opportunity to own factory-backed legends at potentially lower prices than surviving originals.

It's worth noting that Jaguar is not the only company producing continuation cars. Ecurie Ecosse, a Scottish race team with a history of campaigning the C-Type, has announced its own continuation version of the car. Aston Martin has also created continuation versions of the DB4 GT, DB4 GT Zagato, and the DB5 "Goldfinger" movie cars. Bentley has joined the trend with continuation series of its 1920s Speed Six and Blower cars, and even has plans to race the latter.

FutureCar Staff