| Description |
At Jaguar, 1954 saw the
debut of the D-Type. While it looked like a development of the
C, and had a similar engine, it was radically different in
construction. Most cars, including racing cars, in those days
had frames separate from their bodies; the D-Type had a tubular
subframe in front, holding the engine, transmission, and
suspension, but the central and rear parts of the car were of
aircraft-type stressed-skin monocoque construction, for superior
rigidity and decreased weight.
At the 1954 24-hours of Le Mans, the D-Type finished second
to a Ferrari, and then a few weeks later, won at the 12 hour
race at Rheims. The D-Type then was dominant at Le Mans in 1955,
1956, and 1957. The `54 car had a faired headrest behind the
driver for comfort and some aerodynamic advantage. This was
modified in `55 and later with a large, high fin for aerodynamic
stability on the high-speed Mulsanne Straight at LeMans. The
D-Types were timed at over 175 mph.
Jaguar Type D
|
|
Make |
Jaguar |
|
Model |
Type D |
|
Engine Location |
Front |
|
Drive Type |
Rear Wheel |
|
Body Material |
Steel body on box-section steel frame |
|
Production Years for Series |
1954 - 1957 |
|
Weight |
2460 lbs | 1115.9 kg |
|
Performance |
|
0-60 mph |
4.7
seconds. |
|
1/4
Mile |
13.5 @ 109 MPH seconds. |
|
Top
Speed |
162
mph | 260.7 km/h |
|
Engine |
|
Engine Configuration |
|
|
Cylinders |
6 |
|
Aspiration/Induction |
Normal |
|
Displacement |
3442.00 cc | 210 cu in. | 3.4 L. |
|
Valvetrain |
OHC |
|
Horsepower |
250.00 BHP (184 KW) @ 6000.00 RPM |
|
Torque |
242.00 Ft-Lbs (328.2 NM) @ 4000.00 RPM |
|
HP
to Weight Ratio |
9.8
LB / HP |
|
HP
/ Liter |
73.5 BHP / Liter |
|
Bore |
3.27 in | 83.1 mm. | 0.1 m. |
|
Stroke |
4.17 in | 105.9 mm. | 0.1 m. |
|
Compression Ratio |
9.0:1 |
|
Transmission Information |
|
Gears |
4 |
|
Transmission |
Manual |
|
Dimensions |
|
Seating Capacity |
2 |
|
Exterior |
|
Length |
154.001 in | 3911.6 mm. |
|
Width |
65.801 in | 1671.3 mm. |
|
Height |
38.001 in | 965.2 mm. |
|
Wheelbase |
90.001 in | 2286 mm. |
|
