Basically a road-going version of the racing D-Type, the XKSS only came about because Jaguar had a bunch of chassis that they did not need any more, after withdrawing from racing competitions at the end of 1955.
The XKSS was manufactured in very small numbers (around 50 examples), so the one Jay Leno is driving is, like all others actually, is the kind of automotive monument you kneel down to show your gratitude for sharing its space.
There’s just something about these old two-seater Jags from the 50s and 60s that sets them apart from any other cars of the time, even the UK’s own Aston Martin, or Italy’s Ferrari and Maserati – Jaguar was a much better defined brand than it is today… special is the (cliché) term that’s in order here; the new F-Type is a sign of future promise, though.
The sense of occasion is excellently portrayed and put in context by Jay, so we might as well invite you to scroll down and check out his (rather lengthy) presentation of the car. The one he tries out used to be owned by Steve McQuee, so, yeah…
By Andrei Nedelea
VIDEO