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When Jaguar unveiled the E-Type at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, several observers cast their minds back to 1957 – and an equally remarkable two-seater sports car from Browns Lane. The XKSS came about after the company temporarily retired from competition racing in 1956. However, there were several unsold D-Types at the factory while Jaguar’s dealers in North America saw a demand for a “Class C” production racer.

And so Sir William Lyons decided to convert a limited number of D-Types into road-going form. The 3.4-litre engine, transmission and suspension were unaltered, but the body now sported side-screens, a hood, a full-width windshield, a passenger door plus bumpers fore and aft. Jaguar also equipped the XKSS with a spare wheel and a rear luggage rack.

To state the result was exquisite would be a monumental understatement, but on 12^th February 1957, a fire broke out in the tyre store of Browns Lane. Mercifully, there were no serious injuries, but the ensuing blaze caused at least £3million worth of damage and destroyed some 200 cars – including nine of the 25-strong XKSS production run. The tooling was now beyond repair, and so only 16 cars were to leave the factory, including chassis No. 713, exported to the USA in April 1957.

The following year, an up-and-coming leading man named Steve McQueen noticed the XKSS. As the legend has it, he persuaded then-wife to pay $5,000 for the Jaguar. The actor had quite possibly seen in Road & Track of August 1957 that it was capable of 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph. One biography also states McQueen would sometimes tie his horse to the Jaguar when he was shooting his TV Western Wanted: Dead or Alive.

The XKSS was initially finished in white with a red leather interior, but McQueen commissioned Tom Nancy to respray the bodywork in British Racing Green. The actor also specified a metal lid for the glove compartment to keep his sunglasses in place. He sold “The Green Rat” in 1969 but missed the XKSS so much that he repurchased it in 1978. Today, the Jaguar resides at the Petersen Museum.

It would be fair to say that while little could equate with the impact of the E-Type’s debut, the XJSS anticipated several elements of its appearance. Andrew Frankel wrote, ‘Compared to any car of a similar age that was primarily designed for use on the public road, the XKSS feels like a greyhound next to a Labrador – so much faster, more agile and precise that further comparison has no value’. Then as now, this is a Jaguar virtually beyond compare.

Why choose Lancaster Insurance?

Here at Lancaster, we love classic cars as much as you do and we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.

We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.

Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:

• Historic rally cover
• Static show cover
• Limited mileage discounts
• Choice of repairer
• 24-hour claims helpline

Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your Jaguar today.