2015-03-03 22:26:21 | pauls writes:

Car listed as sold at:
www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/381-Jaguar-D-Type%20Recreation%20by%20Wingfield-Dry ...

Sellers description:
1956 Wingfield Jaguar D-type
s/n 1E20208 engine no. 7B 7885-8
Ecurie Ecosse Blue with Green Leather Interior

This particular car is a faithful recreation of the 1956 Ecurie Ecosse Le Mans winning car, and as such, features the full width windscreen, vertical stabilizing fin, longer nose to permit a higher top speed, and their famous blue livery. It was built by Bryan Wingfield, a noted Jaguar collector and vintage racer, who also produced high quality replicas of important Jaguars including the D-Type, XKSS, and low drag E-Type coupe. This car was built on an E-Type roadster chassis with an accurate D-Type specification, including the dry sump lubrication and live rear axle, as would have originally been employed on the D-type. The engine is a 3.4 litre unit with triple Weber 45 carburetors, and the gearbox is a 4-speed synchronized unit from a 4.2 litre E-Type. The cam covers are of the D-Type variety, and the car wears 15-inch knock-off steel/alloy wheels.

The original owner lived in Scotland and then moved to Connecticut where the second owner purchased the car. Now with its third owner, the car has recently been gone through (June 2008) to bring the car to excellent running condition. This included a full service with all fluids changed, lubrication of suspension components, turning of the front brake rotors, repacking the hubs, replacing the fuel hoses, new steering rack boots and sway bar bushings, and an alignment. The tires were also replaced, the carburetors adjusted, and ignition upgraded to electronic type. Finally, the differential and rear axle were completely rebuilt with new pinion bearing, carrier bearings, axle bearings, and new gaskets, in addition to the rebuilding of the differential itself. The compression was also verified to be 155 to 160 pounds across all six cylinders. All told, over $5500 was spent.

Cosmetically, the car wears a wonderful patina that contributes to its functional appeal. There are a handful of dents about the aluminum body, and the occasional chip or nick. There is also an area of scraping near the front left wheelarch. The paint itself is high quality and in good shape. The glass and lights are in fine shape, as are the wheels, which are also very evocative.

The interior is similarly evocative, with a full complement of Smiths instruments, and the correct large three-spoke steering wheel. All instruments and switches are reported to work except for the fuel gauge. The green leather is in fine condition, as is the black crackle dashboard. The large sills are finished in bare aluminum and are very high, as required by the monocoque construction. The car is also fitted with a racing type harness for the driver.

The engine compartment is tidy and presentable. While the twin cam XK engine looks familiar, the tank for the dry sump lubrication system and the triple Weber carburetors indicate that this car is very special indeed. The engine itself is fairly clean, but not spotless, and like the rest of the car, is ideally suited for actually being used.

This is a superb opportunity to acquire a usable car that replicates the driving and aesthetic experience of a true legend. Thanks to its faithful high quality execution, recent comprehensive service, and lovely patina, this car is sure to bring much pleasure behind the wheel to its new owner, in a package that is more distinctive than that of an E-Type, but vastly less expensive (and nerve-racking) than an original D-Type.