One of the rarest Jaguars of all, the XKSS was a spin-off from the D-Type racing programme.

To satisfy sportscar regulations the D-Type had been built in numbers greatly exceeding the demand for such a specialised piece of racing equipment, and conversion to road trim was viewed as the best way of clearing unsold stocks, hence the XKSS.

Modifications to make the D-Type acceptable for road use included installing a seat and door on the passenger side, fitting a full-width windscreen, and heat-shielding the side-exit exhaust system.

A mohair hood and detachable side screens provided weather protection, and, as twin fuel tanks and the spare wheel occupied the boot space, a luggage rack was provided on the tail.

The 3.4-litre XK engine remained pretty much to racing specification, producing around 250bhp, which, in a car weighing just 18cwt, made for electrifying performance.

The loss of a number of bodyshells in the fire at the Brown's Lane works in February 1957 severely curtailed t...