Jaguar plans to build nine new 1957 XKSS sports cars using the VINs of originals destroyed by a fire at the automaker’s Browns Lane plant before completion.
The new cars, known in the business as continuation models, are considered original, though of course they don’t have the patina or provenance that classic car connoisseurs adore.
Still, Jaguar managed to sell all build slots for the XKSS continuation models, even before any of the cars were completed. The asking price was a cool $1.5 million.
1957 Jaguar XKSS continuation model
Jaguar on Wednesday unveiled a new XKSS, although it’s a 10th car that Jaguar will keep. Think of it as a rehearsal for the engineers before attempting actual customer cars.
Following its debut, which took place at the Petersen Museum, Jaguar give Jay Leno a chance to check out the fine work. Unfortunately he wasn’t allowed to drive the car since it isn’t street legal. In fact, this example doesn’t even have a VIN.
But don’t feel too bad for Leno. Only two years he got behind the wheel of an original XKSS, the actual example owned by Steve McQueen.
