The Classic Jaguar XKSS
Dubbed the ‘original supercar’, the XKSS was introduced by Jaguar in 1957 as a road-going conversion of the Le Mans-winning D-type racing car. Nine original XKSSs were earmarked for export to North America in 1957, but were sadly lost in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in Coventry that same year; meaning only 16 of the planned 25 examples were completed – until this year, when Jaguar Classic set about completing the missing nine cars.
The Jaguar Classic team’s meticulous attention to detail, for a fiendishly complicated project, saw the XKSS secure the most votes from Octane’s magazine readers and website visitors.
It is a huge honour to receive such a prestigious award for the XKSS, 12 months to the day since the continuation Car Zero made its global debut in Los Angeles. “Since then we have launched Range Rover and Jaguar Reborn restoration programmes and shown the inventive fully-electric Jaguar E-type Zero too. All of these projects, and more, come to life at our brand-new home – Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works – so we’re delighted that our team’s enthusiasm, expertise and support for the heritage of Jaguar and Land Rover has also been recognised. Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director, John Edwards
We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover Classic have won these awards. Recognition that the business is investing in the Heritage that we love so dearly is very encouraging for us as enthusiasts'. Confidence that there is a secure future for our cars allows us to continue to make sure we can support anyone who drives a classic Jaguar now and in the future.