The Jaguar XKSS was an unexpected creation resulting from the company’s decision to retire from racing in 1956. Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar, chose to convert the remaining D-Type race cars into high-performance sports cars, giving birth to the XKSS. Sixteen examples of the XKSS were produced, and one of them, known as XKSS 707, will be up for auction by RM Sotheby’s at Monterey Car Week in August.

Originally painted cream with a red leather interior, XKSS 707 had been purchased by Lou Brero Sr., but unfortunately, he passed away in a racing accident before taking delivery. The car was subsequently sold to Sammy Weiss, the owner of Oxford Motors in Sacramento, California, who then sold it to Sidney Colberg. Colberg held onto the car until he sold it to Lord Anthony Bamford in 1975.

Lord Bamford, the chairman of JCB, a prominent British heavy equipment manufacturer, owned the car briefly and later passed it on to Geoffrey Marsh, who had it reconditioned. Marsh then sold it to I.G. Campbell McLaren. It was McLaren who had XKSS 707 refinished in a metallic blue color and registered it with the JAG 1 vanity plates it boasts today. The car remained in the McLaren stable for years, participating in historical events like the Le Mans Classic and gracing the pages of several British enthusiast magazines.