One to Buy: ex-Phil Scragg 1957 Jaguar XK SS
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Of the myriad machines that have claimed status of “Le Mans racing car for the road”, arguably none have come closer to fulfilling that mantra than Jaguar’s XK SS of 1957.
When the XK SS was announced in January 1957, the Jaguar D-type (from which it derived) was in the midst of three consecutive Le Mans 24 Hour victories. Having decided ahead of time to quit front line motor racing at the end of 1957, the XK SS was conceived to use up left over D-type tubs.
To broaden the new car’s appeal, a full complement of road trim was added to include a windscreen, side windows, a folding canvas roof, new bumpers, proper road lighting, seats with extra padding and superior upholstery.
Unfortunately, XK SS production ended earlier than expected owing to a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in Coventry during February of 1957. By this time, only 16 new cars had been completed. In addition, two customer-owned D-type were converted to XK SS trim in October 1958: chassis XKD 540.
On November 2nd, chassis XKD 540 will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s London sale where it expected to realise somewhere between £9m and £11m.
XKD 540 started life as a standard D-type which was completed on November 1st 1955 painted British Racing Green with Suede Green leather upholstery. It was most likely used in some R&D capacity at the factory as the car was not sold to Jaguar agent Coombs of Guildford until April 29th 1957. Coombs in turn sold it to textile industrialist and noted privateer, Phil Scragg of Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Having by now painted XKD 540 his customary shade of light metallic blue, in November 1958 Scragg sent the D-type back to Jaguar for conversion to XK SS trim complete with higher 3.92:1 axle ratio for improved acceleration.
Phil Scragg retained the XK SS until October 1959 at which point the car was purchased by Jack Browning of Cheltenham who used the car in a few hillclimbs and in 1960 had Jaguar enlarge the engine from 3.4 to 3.8-litres.
