VIN: the Dick Wilkins / Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-type chassis XKD510
History of chassis XKD510
Chassis XKD510 was a British Racing Green D-type dispatched from the factory on September 24th 1955. Its destination was Henlys in London where it was registered YPC 614 on September 26th.
Via John Coombs’ Jaguar dealership in Guildford, a buyer was found: Dr Richard ‘Dick’ Wilkins of Bishops Stortford.
Although he later went on to purchase several Ferraris (including co-ownership of a famous 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione with Rob Walker), Wilkins only kept XKD510 for a few months. During this time, the Jaguar reputedly accumulated around 250 miles.
Perhaps realising the D-type was a little too extreme for his personal needs, XKD510 was sold to works-supported Jaguar driver, Duncan Hamilton, who ran a prestige car showroom in Byfleet, Surrey (Duncan Hamilton & Co.).
Hamilton did not purchase XKD510 to re-sell. Rather, it joined two other D-types in his racing stable: XKC405 (which ran under the identity of XKC402) and XKD406.
In addition to his own racing programme, Hamilton frequently loaned cars out to sufficiently skilled pay drivers. It was in the hands of one such driver, Graham Whitehead, that XKD510 made its competition debut on March 11th 1956.
Along with XKC405, XKD510 had been shipped out to Senegal for the 35 lap Dakar Grand Prix which was contested on an exceptionally fast 10.3km road circuit.
When the flag dropped, it was the works Ferraris of Harry Schell (750 Monza) and Maurice Trintignant (857 Sport) that shot into an early lead. Behind them, the Jaguars of Hamilton and Whitehead engaged in an early battle with the works Maserati 300 S of Cesare Perdisa.
Later, both Perdisa and Hamilton dropped out, but by this time Whitehead had been passed by the works 300 S of Jean Behra and the privateer 750 Monza of Jean Lucas. However, as the race drew to a close, Whitehead began to close on Lucas and the drivers crossed the line together in what appeared to be a dead heat. Ultimately, Whitehead was classified fifth just two-tenths of a second behind Lucas after nearly two hours of racing.
Soon after its return to England, Duncan Hamilton entered XKD510 for his protege, Tony Dennis, to race in the 15 lap over 1.5-litre Easter Sports car race at Goodwood (April 2nd).
Dennis had quickly established a name for himself behind the wheel of an Austin-Healey 100 during 1955. Unfortunately, while trying to make up ground on the rest of the field (he had started from the back of the grid), Dennis inadvertently selected the wrong gear at the end of the Lavant Straight.
Coming into Woodcote, XKD510’s rear wheels locked at around 110mph which caused the car to swerve onto the grass after which it barrel rolled end over end. Poor Tony Dennis was thrown from the car and died before reaching hospital.
The D-type came to rest upside down, after which a flash fire engulfed the Jaguar which was quickly extinguished.
Duncan Hamilton sold the damaged remains to Gerald Ashmore of West Bromwich.
Ashmore stripped XKD510 of any salvageable components which were then used to build a new car around a factory-supplied monocoque which was also given the number XKD510.
Meanwhile, the damaged original monocoque of XKD510 was stored on the roof of Ashmore's garage for several years. It was later sold to serial D-type owner Nigel Moores (the nephew of Littlewoods founder Sir John Moores) and built up with damaged subframes from XKD606.
Notable History
British Racing Green
24/09/1955 dispatched
Supplied to Henlys, London
26/09/1955 registered YPC 614
Sold via John Coombs to Dr. Richard ‘Dick’ Wilkins, Bishops Stortford
Sold to Duncan Hamilton (Duncan Hamilton & Co.), Byfleet, Surrey
11/03/1956 IND Dakar 2 Hours (G. Whitehead) 5th oa (#49)
02/04/1956 IND Goodwood Easter Meeting Sports 1.5+ (T. Dennis) DNF (#52)
Wrecked in Dennis’s fatal accident
Damaged remains sold to Gerald Ashmore, West Bromwich
Damaged tub later sold to Nigel Moores, Freshfield, Merseyside
Rebuilt with the repaired subframes from XKD606
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
