A 1957 Jaguar XKSS was bought final week by RM Sotheby’s at its public sale coinciding with 2023 Monterey Automotive Week.

After some intensive bidding, the automobile lastly bought for $13,205,000, which was proper within the middle of its estimate of between $12 million and $14 million.

The automobile, which bears chassis no. 707, is among the many greatest preserved examples of the Jaguar race automobile constructed for the street. It options most of its authentic bodywork, plus an authentic engine block and head, and even two of the three carburetors, in accordance with the public sale itemizing. The odometer reveals 25,535 miles, which is regarded as the precise lifetime mileage.

The unique XKSS automobiles have been D-Sort race automobiles transformed for street use and bought to prospects largely within the U.S., certainly one of them being Steve McQueen. After profitable Le Mans with the D-Sort two years in a row, Jaguar selected to withdraw from racing on the finish of the 1956 season. That left some spare D-Sort chassis.

For the XKSS, Jaguar modified the bodywork, dropping the distinct fin and including fundamental facilities, together with a passenger door, a windshield, facet curtains, and a folding prime, however the firm saved the 262-hp 3.4-liter inline-6 engine and different mechanical {hardware}. The end result was a road-going model of a still-competitive race automobile. The D-Sort went on to win Le Mans once more in 1957 with the privateer Ecurie Ecosse group.

Jaguar deliberate to construct 25 examples of the XKSS, however solely 16 have been inbuilt 1957 earlier than a fireplace broke out at Jaguar’s Browns Lane manufacturing unit, with the unfinished automobiles both destroyed by the fireplace or later dismantled for components. In 2016, Jaguar bought round to constructing these closing 9 examples as continuation automobiles that have been every bought for $1.5 million.

1957 Jaguar XKSS bearing chassis no. 707 – Photograph credit score: RM Sotheby’s

Chassis no. 707 was one of many authentic 16 automobiles to be constructed. It was imported to the U.S. initially for supply to racing driver Lou Brero Sr., who chosen a cream exterior and purple inside. He died in a crash earlier than taking supply and in consequence the automobile was bought to vendor Sammy Weiss, whose Sacramento dealership bought it to San Francisco resident and racer Sidney Colberg in 1960.

Colberg saved the XKSS for 15 years earlier than promoting it to British fanatic Anthony Bamford. The automobile then remined within the U.Okay., buying and selling palms just a few occasions. Through the years, the unique hood, dented in racing incidents, was changed, in addition to a rear bulkhead because of the authentic that includes holes as soon as minimize for roll bars. The automobile was additionally repainted at one level to its present metallic blue—a nod to the Ecurie Ecosse race automobiles.

1957 Jaguar XKSS bearing chassis no. 707 – Photograph credit score: RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s additionally bought a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 for $5.4 million in Monterey, in addition to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo for simply over $4 million, and a 1990 Ferrari F40 for $3.3 million.

The best value fetched for a Ferrari in Monterey was a 1967 412P race automobile. It was bought by rival public sale home Bonhams for simply over $30 million.