World record for Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar 20 | 08 | 2016
SIXTY YEARS AFTER it won the Le Mans 24-Hours in 1956, the legendary Ecurie Ecosse D-Type Jaguar, chassis XKD 501, has set a new world record by becoming the most expensive British car ever sold at auction (see more images of the iconic Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XKD 501).
The stunning race car, in original, unmolested condition, sold for $21,780,000 ($19.8m hammer price, plus taxes and commission) at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey, California.
The figure easily eclipsed the previous record of $14.3m set last year by RM with an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato.
The blue and white Jaguar, with the famous Saltire badge resplendent on its wings, had only two private owners since Edinburgh-based Ecurie Ecosse, and had been in the same private collection for more than 16 years before the auction.
Driven by Edinburgh’s Ron Flockhart and Glasgow-born Ninian Sanderson, the privately-entered Ecurie Ecosse team fended off the might of works teams from Ferrari and Aston Martin to win the 1956 Le Mans.
The Jaguar took the chequered flag having completed 2507.19 miles at an average speed of 104.47 mph. It also achieved a maximum speed of 156.868 mph on the Mulsanne Straight.
History was made. And 12 months later, Ecurie Ecosse — the latest incarnation of the team, Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse, currently races in the British GT Championship — returned to Le Mans to power its two Jaguars to a dominant 1-2 finish.
“This record for any British car demonstrates that collectors remain prepared to part with significant sums to secure the rarest, fresh-to-the-market automobiles,”Ian Kelleher, managing director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division, said.
“This outstanding prices achieved at our flagship sale is a reassuring sign that the market remains healthy and vibrant.”
Related: Ecurie Ecosse Le Mans-winning Jaguar to hit $20-25m
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Jim McGill
Photographs: Copyright of Patrick Ernzen, 2016, courtesy RM Sotheby’s