Lynx D-type: Sincere form of flattery

The days when replica cars were largely looked down upon are long gone, not least since there are now so many superbly accurate and beautifully built examples available (including some from the very marques that made the originals).

But back in the early ’70s, Lynx Motors became one of the first firms to build truly high-end ‘continuations’ when it began the low-volume manufacture of its Lynx D-type.

The company was originally formed in 1968 by engineer Guy Black and architect Roger Ludgate in order to provide a repair, maintenance and restoration service for C, D and E-type Jaguars. But by 1972 experience gleaned from working one factory race cars led the pair to develop an accurate D-type replica based on the Le Mans winner of 1956.

A total of 53 examples of the original Lynx D-type were built, including nine in fin-less XKSS form, but perhaps the most famous is the car pictured here, the 17th produced and the very car that set several national endurance speed records at MIRA in 1987, all of which still stand.

In keeping with the car’s blue Ecurie Ecosse livery, the team that set them comprised three drivers from Scottish ackgrounds – grand prix star Innes Ireland, ladies rallying world champion Louise Aitken- Walker and hillclimb doyen Kenny Allen. Between them they managed no fewer than five records including 100km at an average of 138.11mph; 200km at 136.28mph; and to average 136.58mph over the course of one hour. Not bad going for a replica and worthy perhaps even of the original.

Still carrying its memorable registration mark 57 SAL, the aluminium-bodied, long- nose car is fitted with the same 4.2-litre engine with triple Weber carburettors and D-type valves and cams that helped it to secure its string of records. The famously authentic Lynx interior, meanwhile, is as beautifully patinated as the rest of the car, which Jaguar specialist CKL Developments fairly describes as “the most desirable Lynx D-type on the planet”. Said to be equally usable on both road and track, it is being offered with a hefty history file detailing its record-breaking exploits in correspondence, pictures and video.

With Lynx Motors now recently revived and future cars being built at Coventry MetalCraft (the site of the old Abbey Panels Jaguar XJ220 factory) an already strong market for these exceptional recreations is likely to become more buoyant.

And compared with the $21.7m achieved at auction four years ago by the actual D-type driven to victory at the ’56 Le Mans by Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson, £295,000 looks like peanuts.

Well, these things are all relative…

1973 Lynx D-type

On sale with CKL, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 ORE. ckl.co.uk
Asking: £295,000

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