Classic division of Jaguar will build nine replicas of the 1957 XKSS

Jaguar XKSS

After almost 60 years, Jaguar is once again building the XKSS, and the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosted the event as a privileged setting for the unveiling of this automotive jewel. It was originally conceived as a road-going version of the Le Mans-winning D-Type, built between 1954 and 1956. The signature colour of this XKSS is Sherwood Green.

The engineering team at Jaguar Classic will build nine units of the XKSS, a number representing the cars that were destroyed in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in the British Midlands, which were destined for North America. In this way, 16 units of the 25 planned XKSS cars were built. Now production of those nine cars is resumed, which will be delivered to a select group of prestigious customers and collectors around the world in 2017.

The new XKSS, built like the originals, is the result of 18 months of research. They drew on the previous experience of creating the six Jaguar Lightweight E-Types built in 2014. Building on this experience, the engineering team at Jaguar Classic learned to design vehicles faithful to the specifications of the era. Original Jaguar archive drawings have been combined with modern technology. Several versions of the 1957 XKSS were scanned to create a complete digital image of the vehicle, from the bodywork to the chassis, including all necessary parts.

Jaguar XKSS

The engineers at Jaguar Classic worked with the original structures, from which they created CAD (computer-aided design) mock-ups to facilitate the construction of the chassis. The Jaguar Classic team worked with Reynolds, the frame manufacturer famous for its tubular structures and 531 tubing, to produce the new model-specific parts using imperial measurements instead of the metric system. The frames are brazed in bronze, just as the XKSS chassis tubes were made at that time.

The original moulds are also no longer available, so Jaguar Classic has created a new custom-designed mould based on the original 1950s bodies. This will serve as the pattern for building the nine vehicles using a traditional manual assembly-line process. The XKSS body is made from magnesium alloy, just as it was in 1957.

The replicas have the original specifications, such as Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels with a Plessey pump and Dunlop tyres with two-piece magnesium alloy riveted wheels.

Under the bonnet of the XKSS is the 3.4-litre, six-cylinder inline engine producing 262 CV from the Jaguar D-Type. The powerplant features all-new cast-iron blocks, new cast cylinder heads and three Weber DC03 carburettors.

Interior of the Jaguar XKSS

Inside, the new XKSS features a perfect recreation of the period’s Smiths gauges. Great care has been taken so that the replica is identical to the models built in 1957: the wooden steering wheel, the stitching on the leather seats, the metal buttons on the XKSS dashboard, among other things.

Only minor specification changes have been made to improve the safety of drivers and passengers. For example, the fuel tank is made from robust modern materials to withstand everyday driving and the specifications of today’s fuels.

The vehicles put up for sale will begin to be built by hand at the start of next year, and it is estimated that 10,000 hours of work will be needed to build each new XKSS.

Source | Jaguar