2009-04-13 18:41:16 | pauls writes:

This car is mentioned in the book "Jaguar D type & XKSS" by Graham Robson as having body H2014.

2009-04-14 10:26:52 | Pekka T. writes:

from www.xkevocation.com

First production line car to be delivered; August 1956 supplied to Glovers, Ripon: sold to Sir Robert Ropner (Bedale, Yorks); used as road car for many years; 1959 factory fitted 3.8 engine; hillclimbed by ovvner and raced once by son, Bruce; maintained by factory and 'Wilkie' Wilkinson; 1974 sold to Adrian Hamilton on behalf of Robert Danny; sold to Ole Sommer (Naerum, Denmark)

2009-04-14 17:39:16 | pauls writes:

According to "Jaguar D Type & XKSS" by Graham Robson car was dispatched Aug 26, 1955 to Sir Robert Ropner as above. Registered PWX 2.

2009-08-17 04:43:02 | Pekka T. writes:

as seen at the Ole Sommer collection in Nærum, Denmark

2009-11-03 08:15:08 | pauls writes:

The following information and undated black and white photo were provided to coventryracers.com courtesy of Sommer's Automobile Museum, 11/2/09:
www.sommersautomobilmuseum.dk/museum/

Jaguar D Type, 1955, chassis no. 514,
owner: Mr. Ole Sommer, Sommer's Automobile Museum, Naerum Hovedgade 3,
DK-2850 Naerum, Denmark

The JAGUAR D-TYPE is a famous racing model which won the Le Mans Race in
1955, 56 and 57.

The D-Type even took positions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 in the 1957 Le Mans Race.

The D-Type body is beautiful and it can be used for driving in normal
traffic, although the comfort for the single passenger is minimal.

There were built 87 D-Types in the period 1954-1957. 17 of these were built
for the Factory Racing Team and 16 of the 70 production models were equipped
with wind screen and hood and were given a special name: XKSS.

Chassis no. 514 was one of the first production cars and was delivered in
August 1955 to Sir Robert Ropner from Durham, who used it privately for 21
years. The car came to Sommer’s Museum in 1976 and is – as far as known –
the only D-Type which never has been raced and never has been involved in
accidents. The Jaguar Factory fitted an original 3.8 ltr. D-Type engine in
1958 and also a limited slip diff plus a tail fin.

514 has participated in many historic Events including Memorial Cavalcades
on the Le Mans Track in 1995, 1997 and 2006.

Engine:
The 6 cylinder 3.8 ltr. XK-engine has 2 overhead camshafts and dry sump
lubrication - the output is 300 HP at 5.600 rpm.

Bore and stroke 87x106 mm
Swept volume 3781 cm3
Output 300 hp at 5600 rpm

Dimensions and performance:
Length 392 cm
Width 146 cm
Height 80 cm
Weight 860 kg
Acceleration 0 100 km/h 4,8 sec
Acceleration 0 160 km/h 12,0 sec
Max speed app. 290 km/h

Sincerely Yours,

OLE SOMMER

2009-11-13 16:21:43 | Pekka T. writes:

Like Ole said, possibly the only D-type that was never raced in it's own era. Bought new and registred for road use according to Paul Skilleter: "The first line built D-type to be sold to a private customer was XKD 514, which went to Sir Robert Ropner in County Durham in August 1955 -and which was, and is, used as a road car by its original owner. " quote from: www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/d-type.php

"Mike Hawthorn - Golden Boy"

2014-09-30 16:57:48 | John Wake writes:

My late Father Christopher Wake maintained and drove this car whilst it was in the ownership of Sir Rbt. Ropner and it was originally supplied without the "fin" and was sent back to Jaguar to have a "Fin" grafted on.
The car also suffered minor front damage when Dad drove it into a box or toolbox of some sort
John Wake

2017-08-15 10:42:32 | simon kamstra writes:

I was taken for a drive around Scarborough in this car by Bruce Ropner in about 1973, when I was ten,being lucky enough to have the Ropner's as family friends. Unforgettable engine noiseand feeling; though even at that age I could not see why such an unforgettable car ,had been bought in what I saw as a humdrum colour (dark grey)! I still hold that view..