1962 Jaguar D Type Recreation

Originally out-shopped as a Triumph Herald 1200 (to the best of our detective abilities, and those of the vendor) this D Type evocation was conceived around 20 years ago to the best of our vendor’s knowledge, and in the years since it has been maintained, fettled, improved and some would say ‘perfected’ by the masterminds at Rally Preparation Services (RPS) in Witney, Oxfordshire, between 2020 and 2021, with a total of over £35,000 spent by the current registered keeper in creating this head-turning tribute.

It should also be noted that the original Triumph 1200 engine has been done-away with at some point in the vehicles’s history, and in its place sits a 2.0-litre, six-cylinder engine which is far more fitting for a D Type recreation.

Whilst in the care of its current custodian, the car has been used to travel around their Scottish estate, and has received a full check-over prior to the vendor delivering it to us here at The Market HQ.

A full itemised break-down of the c.£35,000 of expenditure can be found in the ‘history’ section below, but a quick highlights run-down includes the following:

- 4x new matching Michelin XVS-P tyres, brake fluid, brake unions and a new battery strap in October 2021 at a cost of £2,546

- New brake discs, pads, fluid, callipers and master cylinder in June 2021 at a cost of £2,547

- Welding, new tanks, brake pressure valve, propshaft and more in September/October 2020

- Push-start, polybushed suspension components, replica screens and headlight covers, V-belts, pipework, fan controller, distributor terminal and more in September 2020

- Head gasket, oil feed system, clutch slave cylinder and fuel hoses in August 2020

- Conversion to a lead-free cylinder head, pressure test, fitment of a reconditioned steering rack, universal steering joints and more in July 2020

- A full road test, re-cored radiator, fluid service, wheel bearing, suspension overhaul, new fuel pump, rear wheel cylinder and more following delivery to RPS in April 2020.

Whilst it may not be inch-perfect as per the official Jaguar tool-room copies that are now circulating among the classic car fraternity, there is no mistaking the iconic fin-tail, low-slung bodywork and slippery shape of the D Type as seen on this evocation, and on the whole the bodywork remains in great shape throughout.

Looking along the flanks, the panel gaps, fit and finish is generally of a good order, especially for a fibreglass recreation such as this, and there are no signs of any impacts, accident damage or noticeable indentations that we could see.

The paintwork, too, is in good condition, but wears a delightful usage patina throughout, consistent with a vehicle that has been used and enjoyed. There are numerous minor marks, imperfections, stone chips and scuffs to note, the majority of which can only be seen up-close to the bodywork. There are also some more visible scuffs around the ‘mouth’ of the front bumper, and a large chunk has been taken out of the rear of the iconic rear fin, though this has been painted over in an attempt to conceal the blemish.

On the nearside of the vehicle, the exhaust surround bears a number of scuffs and marks, though remains in good order and is perfectly serviceable.

All four of the Dunlop race wheels are in excellent condition, and all four of the matching Michelin tyres are in great shape with plenty of life left.

Inside, the cockpit is spartan, functional and driver-focused, with luxuries at a premium, to say the least. That said, the aim of this recreation is to provide a visceral, period-effect driving experience, and it’s safe to say it delivers on that aim.

Whilst the inner edges of the door jambs may not be in the best shape, the cockpit overall remains in presentable condition, with typical patina on areas such as the deep footwells, seat bases (largely due to the difficulty entering/exiting the vehicle, we imagine) and the various dymo-labelled switches and toggles throughout the cockpit.

Once settled into the confines of the cabin, we noticed there was some difficulty in closing the driver’s door, necessitating some ‘encouragement’ from the outside, so perhaps a slight adjustment of the catch is required.

We also noted that the handle on the gear selector had a habit of coming loose, which necessitated shifting using the column of the shifter itself, but otherwise all systems appeared to be in full working condition.

Under the front-hinged clamshell, the 2.0-litre inline-six engine looks to be in rude health, and it is clear where the majority of the recent expenditure has been targeted, as the overall mechanical feeling of this D Type evocation is one of being well-designed, well-maintained and delivering an on-road driving experience that far exceeded our expectations.

The engine itself presents very well indeed, with no signs of any major oil or fluid leaks that we could see, and everything looked to be in its right-and-proper place. The powertrain started on the button (quite literally, in this instance) and ran faultlessly throughout our test drive and photo shoot, with the upgraded cooling system (including electronic fan) keeping all the temperatures and pressures in-check.

Out on the road, the bark of the inline-six matches the car’s character perfectly, whilst the gearshift is precise and the clutch is impressively direct, with no untoward behaviours or noises noted by our photographer.

Underneath the fibreglass bodywork, the chassis and drivetrain look to be in good health, with plenty of evidence of recent works and expenditure, and no signs of any corrosion to be concerned about.

Included with the vehicle is the V5 registered keepers document showing a total of seven former keepers (including those that owned the vehicle during its time as a Triumph), a number of invoices from RPS Witney, one set of keys and a HPI check.

The most recent MoT - from when the vehicle was still a Triumph Herald - took place in 2009, at 38,850 miles.

Head-turning, genuinely enjoyable to drive and ready to simply jump in and use, we appreciate that evocations such as this aren’t to everybody’s taste, but for those looking for an enjoyable, visceral and nostalgic driving experience to give even a glimpse at Le Mans driver history without paying the extortionate price tags of the genuine article or even Jaguar tool-room copies, we reckon this 1962 D Type Evocation offers plenty of potential for fun.

Offered up for sale with NO RESERVE and an estimate of £25,000 to £35,000 and boasting significant recent expenditure, we’ve no doubt that the winning bidder will enjoy many miles and years of fun, smiles and enjoyment behind the wheel of this charming tribute to the iconic D Type.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.