A special 1954 Jaguar D-Type Competition Car, chassis number XKD 403, is set to go under the hammer at the 2025 Amelia Island Auction with no reserve. Known as OKV 2, its number plate, the D-Type is one the most important sports racing cars of all time, having been raced and tested by some of the most famous drivers of the era.
Stirling Moss, Peter Walker, Tony Rolt, Peter Whitehead, Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Bueb, Ninian Sanderson, and Norman Dewis have all been behind the wheel of OKV 2. It may also be the most raced Works D-Type ever, having competed in top European races every year from 1954 to 1958.
The car is estimated to bring $6,500,000 to $8,500,000 when it crosses the auction block at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island this March.
The Jaguar D-Type is a very revolutionary car for its day, boasting an aircraft-inspired lightweight engineering to go with its breathtakingly beautiful aerodynamic body. It set new records for speed year after year at Le Mans, earning Jaguar a hat trick of wins at the famous endurance race.
The earliest cars were built solely for the Works competition department. OKV 2 was in the firs group of three built for Jaguar’s all-out assault on the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It was designated as team lead for the race with Stirling Moss behind the wheel, along with his favoured co-driver, Peter Walker. The pair set the quickest time in practice, reaching a record 172.97 mph down the Mulsanne straight. Brake issues forced it to retire but it still raced in other events that same year.
After other more successful races and testing stints with legendary drivers Norman Dewis, Mike Hawthorn, and Ninian Sanderson, it was eventually sold in 1955 to race. Bob Berry who bought it proved himself with numerous finishes including podium finishes at Goowood and Aintree.
It will join many exceptional cars for the auction including the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, 1451 GT, arguably the most significant example extant, along with other competition and race-bred greats, a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 “Fuelie” Camoradi USA Factory Race Car, a 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale, and a 1959 AC Ace Bristol with exciting period competition history.
For more information on Broad Arrow’s 2025 Amelia Auction (7th – 8th March), including bidder registration, visit the website at broadarrowauctions.com.
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