2009-11-10 20:56:19 | Coventry Racers writes:

The record was updated:

2010-11-08 05:14:57 | Coventry Racers writes:

The record was updated:

2011-11-18 04:05:50 | Coventry Racers writes:

The record was updated:

2012-01-08 03:34:21 | Coventry Racers writes:

The record was updated:

2014-01-23 13:49:39 | Coventry Racers writes:

The record was updated:

2014-02-10 19:00:08 | Coventry Racers writes:

The record was updated:

2009-02-03 00:14:33 | Anonymous writes:

Photo Avaliable :

acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx

Title Jack "Gelignite" Murray advertising U-Grip trousers in his D-type Jaguar racing car
Creator Hickson, Jack
Call Number Australian Photographic Agency - 02778

Above make reference to "Murray" crashing car in Australia 1957.

This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the State Library of NSW.

2009-04-14 17:51:45 | pauls writes:

According to "Jaguar D Type & XKSS" by Graham Robson car was dispatched Dec. 14, 1955.

2011-04-23 14:59:41 | pauls writes:

Car is said to have been owned Jack Davey in 1957, in Australia as confirmed by Porter's comment. Mentioned in "The XK120 in the Southern Hemisphere" page 19. Jack Murray is said to have owned XKD532.

2011-11-17 20:56:24 | bill wilkie writes:

I still have in my possession a copy of 'Sports Car World' from before 1965 that featured an article on this car. It was featured in colour on the cover, and I recall , had the ASH222 number plate on it.

I had wondered what had happened to it in the time since that article.

Sports Car World was published by K G Murray in Sydney. I don't know who owns the company in whatever form it is now, but it should not be too difficult to find the original of the article and any unpublished material if needed.

2012-01-07 21:10:46 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:
www.kidston.com

Sellers description:
Jaguar D-Type The ex-Bib Stillwell, Frank Gardner, Jack Davey, 'Dickie' Attwood and Angus Spencer-Nairn
Kidston SA

colour Green
drive LHD
type Cabrio / Roadster
year 1955
price P.O.R.
VAT No
city 1207 Geneva
country Switzerland
•One of the most successful and iconic sports cars of all time
•Extensive early racing record and well documented subsequent provenance
•UK registered (EU tax paid), immaculately presented and with a detailed history file
•Not merely eligible but highly in demand by organizers of the world's most exclusive events
•Chris Keith-Lucas: "In my opinion the car remains one of the best production D types in existence"

On only a few, rare, occasions do automobile design, performance and competition success coalesce into sublime expressions of form following function.

The list is short: Mercer Raceabout, Zagato and Touring's Alfa Romeo 6C and 8Cs, Touring's Alfa Romeo 8C 2900s, Giuseppe Figoni's Talbot-Lago T150 CSS Le Mans 'Teardrops', Ferrari's 330 P3/4.

And Malcolm Sayer's D-type Jaguar.

'XKD 520', the seventh production D-type, was ordered through Brysons in Melbourne, Australia in June 1955 by up-and-coming driver Bib Stillwell, who later recalled: "I purchased the car new from Jaguar and it arrived in Melbourne, Australia in January 1956. I competed with the car for two seasons and had numerous successes with it." These included the Bathurst 500, where 'XKD520' set the outright fastest sports car speed ever, also setting a new sports car record in the Rob Roy Hillclimb and winning the South Australia Trophy at Port Wakefield. After a brief hiatus when the car was prepared for the Australian Land Speed Record attempt it resumed racing in the Bathurst Road Racing Championship for Sports Cars, winning outright. A second place at Lowood in the Queensland TT and fifth in the Australian TT at Albert Park during the Australian GP meeting followed.

At the end of the '56 season 'XKD 520' was sold to Ampol, the Australian Motorists Petrol Company, for Jack Davey, a colourful figure if ever there was one, to use in the 1957 Ampol Around Australia Trial. The D-type was left in the care of Bill Murray in Surfer's Paradise to prepare for the 6,000 mile Ampol Trial including a repaint in bright red and addition of a passenger windscreen. While driving the D-type to the start Murray lost control at high speed and smashed into an articulated lorry. Both the D-type and Murray were grievously damaged. In mid-1957 'XKD 520' was sold to racer Frank Gardner who undertook its repair. In its April 1963 issue, which featured 'XKD520' on the cover as part of a feature entitled 'Our Fastest Road Car?', Australian magazine Sports Car World recalled: "The car was painstakingly rebuilt and all necessary parts crack tested. Alan Standfield made repairs to the alloy bodywork and the car returned to racing in 1958. Gardner's choice for body color was white- the same as his previous racing cars."

Gardner then proceeded to add further laurels to 'XKD 520's history including a second at Bathurst, first at Mt. Druitt, third in both heats at the Orange Racing Car Scratch Races (both bettered only by GP cars) and first in the over 1500cc race at Schofields.

David Finch acquired 'XKD 520' in November 1958 and continued to race it for the next three years, eventually fitting a factory-supplied 3.8-litre block after the original 3.4-litre added its expiration to the fitting name of Bathurst's engine-testing Con Rod Straight. He earned a first place in the 1961 Queensland TT with the new engine. In 1961 an encounter with a fence at Warwick Farm exceeded the ductility of the original bonnet and Alan Standfield created a distinctively-shaped version of Jaguar's long nose bonnet.

Ash Marshall acquired 'XKD 520' in May 1962 and commenced a plush restoration with chromed accessories, XKSS style side exhaust and heat shield, polished aluminum, a fully-carpeted interior and "a glass-like finish" as described in Sports Car World, complemented by the registration number 'ASH 222'. Later owners in Australia include Peter Bradley and Richard Parkinson.
In 1967 'XKD 520' was acquired by former Jaguar apprentice and future Le Mans 24 Hours winning racing driver and car dealer Richard Attwood in the U.K. He had it attended to by Jaguar's Brown's Lane facility and then displayed it in his Wolverhampton Mercedes-Benz showroom, ultimately selling it to Sir Angus Spencer-Nairn in 1977.

Jaguar expert and restorer Chris Keith-Lucas recounts its later history as follows:
"[It] came to us at Lynx on behalf of its new owner, Angus Spencer-Nairn. The car was generally quite well presented at that time, but required straight-forward recommissioning before being sent out to the Channel Islands....

"Over the next quarter century I maintained a regular acquaintance with the car.... He used it quite lightly; a few track days, some tours, a Mille Miglia, but no races....

"In 2004 the car sold to a new owner ... who kindly brought the car to me [at CKL Developments] again for recommissioning. It is now [2005] in good usable condition and pains have been taken not to spoil the pleasing patina of the car.

"... The car has retained its original tail, monocoque and the 3.8 engine supplied by the works early in the car's life. However, on working on the car...we decided to put right one outstanding feature which we felt had been unsatisfactory for many years. This was the bonnet: the one it had worn since its accident in Australia around '57 was a locally-produced item, and was not any too beautiful, being a rather flattened semi-long nose, semi short-nose affair.

"The aim was to return it to its original body plan, and this we achieved with a genuine original short-nose bonnet which I managed to acquire for the project. This bonnet had at one time been fitted to an XKSS and had been discarded decades ago when that car was rebuilt.... The removal of the rather oddly-shaped tail fin improved the look of the car and was authentic for the car's early appearance. It also gave us the chance to view the paint layers underneath, red and white, which were found to accord perfectly with the Andrew Whyte description.

"In my opinion the car remains one of the best production D types in existence, having had a long-term owner through the period when many other cars were spoiled by unsympathetic restorations and unfortunate ownership changes. To the very best of my knowledge the car has retained its principle components since the end of the 1950s. It is one of my favourite D types...."

In addition to fitting the original style short nose bonnet, CKL Developments' work in 2005 included detail work to de-chrome plate and restore ancillaries and suspension elements to factory appearance.

Subsequent owners have been Joel Laub in the U.S., a well-known and highly regarded U.K enthusiast and the current European collector. It has been maintained in recent years by David Brazell and is being freshly serviced by Chris Keith-Lucas at CKL Developments before being placed in the hands of its next keeper.

'XKD 520's appeal is endorsed by both Bib Stillwell and Richard Attwood who at various times expressed their desire to re-acquire it.
Also included in the sale are the Australian-built semi long-nose bonnet and tail fin - both important attributes of the car's continuous and significant history from new - a passenger windscreen, spare clutch and spare wheel. During its long term ownership by Angus Spencer-Nairn a substantial quality of documentation was accumulated including its FIA Historical Technical Passport, correspondence with Jaguar historians Andrew Whyte and Philip Porter, correspondence with Bib Stillwell and between Stillwell and the Jaguar works, old registration documents and ancillary correspondence and restoration and maintenance invoices which conclusively document 'XKD 520's history and originality.

Sympathetically preserved, restored and maintained, 'XKD 520' is one of the best D-type survivors of the 53 customer cars built, a choice example of the art of Sir William Lyons, Bill Heynes, Malcolm Sayer and "Lofty" England and the glorious competition history of Jaguar.
Whether you regard it as Britain's rival to the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa or the roadgoing equivalent of a Supermarine Spitfire (it's both), the new owner of Jaguar D-type 'XKD 520' is unlikely to ever regret acquiring it.

2012-01-07 21:14:21 | pauls writes:

Note photo of data plate shows:
Chassis XKD 520
Body H2020
Engine 2056-9
Gearbox GB3128

2013-10-27 17:58:07 | pauls writes:

Car to be at Paris auction 2/14

www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm

Description:

1955 Jaguar D-Type Chassis no. XKD 520

Paris

5 February 2014

Lot 30

1955 Jaguar D-Type

To be auctioned on Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Sold for €3.696.000

Chassis number XKD 520 is the seventh customer D-Type built, and it was ordered new in June 1955, through Australian importer Jack Bryson, on behalf of its first owner, Bib Stillwell, a local sports car racer and future four-time consecutive winner of the open-wheel Australian Drivers' Championship. After arriving in Melbourne in January 1956, this car was used extensively by Stillwell, setting numerous sports car records at local circuits, including the Bathurst 500 and the Rob Roy Hill Climb, and it took an outright victory at the South Australia Trophy in Port Wakefield. After briefly being prepared for a run at a landspeed record, XKD 520 returned to sports car class competition, winning the Bathurst Road Racing Championship in 1956.

The slate of triumphs continued with the D-Type's performance at the Moomba Tourist Trophy at Albert Park in Melbourne, where the car roared to a 2nd place finish in March 1956, as well as the Australian Tourist Trophy at the same location in November, where the car finished 5th. Mr Stillwell's career in XKD 520 essentially concluded the following spring on 24 March 1957, when he took 3rd place at Albert Park.

A short time later, this beautiful D-Type was purchased by AMPOL (the Australian Motorists Petrol Company), on behalf of Jack Davey, who was a wartime radio personality of great regional renown. It was entrusted to Bill Murray, of Surfer's Paradise, and was prepared for the AMPOL-sponsored speed trials, but unfortunately, an accident during transport prevented the car's participation in the race. The D-Type was then sold to enthusiast Frank Gardner, who rebuilt the still-capable race car and undertook a competition campaign of his own, taking 2nd place at Bathurst in 1958, 1st place at the Mount Druitt Hill Climb, and 3rd place at both of the Orange Racing Car Scratch Races (where he notably only lost to grand prix cars).

In November 1958, XKD 520 was sold to David Finch, who soon fitted the car with a factory-supplied 3.8-litre engine, which was a more powerful motor that was equipped on later D-Types and sometimes sold as a replacement engine. The new engine prolonged the car's competitive ability, allowing it to gamely participate in the Longford event of 1960 and to take 1st overall at the Queensland Tourist Trophy of 1961. Around this time, a minor incident necessitated work to the front end, and Mr Finch took the opportunity to replace the nose with a long-nose bonnet crafted by Sydney body-man Ian Standfield, in the style of the Le Mans-winning long-nose D-Types.

In May 1962, this outstanding Jaguar was purchased by Ash Marshall and treated to a thorough freshening, which included chroming multiple components. Over the next few years, the car passed through ownership by Peter Bradley and Richard Parkinson, before being acquired in 1967 by racing great Richard Attwood, the future Le Mans winner. Attwood would keep the car for some 10 years, before selling it to Sir Angus Spencer Nairn.

In 1977, Chris Keith-Lucas picked the car up from Mr Attwood's residence on behalf of the new owner. In a letter, of which a copy is included on file, Keith-Lucas recalls the car fondly: "It was generally quite well-presented, but [it] needed a straight forward recomissioning before being sent to the new owner".

Few businesses could be better prepared to treat XKD 520 to a light freshening. Whilst under Lynx's care, the car was tended by managing director Chris Keith-Lucas--a recognised marque expert who would later go on to found the well-known and highly regarded CKL Developments--commencing nearly 30 years of attention by Mr Keith-Lucas.

Angus used his D-Type lightly, taking part on several track days and competing in the Mille Miglia retrospective, although the car was never seriously raced during that time. In 2004, XKD 520 was acquired by Clive Jarman. It was sent back for maintenance work by Keith-Lucas, who, by this time, had founded his own company, CKL Developments. Jarman decided to correct one feature of XKD 520 that had remained unsatisfactory to him for many years. As mentioned, the original short-nose bonnet had been replaced in 1961 with a long-nose version. As it was not entirely correct, CKL managed to source an original short-nose bonnet that had been discarded decades ago during the restoration of an XKSS. It should be noted that the Australian crafted long-nose bonnet is supplied with the car, as it remains a part of its notable history. Now with a correct-type bonnet, Mr Keith-Lucas states: "In my opinion, [this] car remains one of the best production D-Types in existence today. To the very best of my knowledge, [it] has retained its principle components since the end of the 1950s. It is one of my favourite D-Types".

XKD 520 has been recently serviced, once again, by CKL, and it is accompanied by extensive documentation, including a FIA Historical Technical Passport. It is one of the earliest and most original examples of a customer-specification D-Type, and it is eligible for the most desirable events in the world. The Jaguar D-Type will always have its place in history as one of the all-time greats. At the pinnacle of the Jaguar spectrum, the D-Type is delicate yet aggressive, mixing style with performance and proving itself in race results. XKD 520 is one of very few cars that boast a great provenance, making it a great addition to any stable of collector cars.

2014-08-02 20:45:42 | terry mcgrath writes:

The posting dated 3rd feb 2009 with link to photo is not of XKD520 which was crashed by a 'BILL' Murray but of XKD532 which was owned by 'JACK' Murray
XKD532 led a very sheltered life late see history at XKD532
__________________________________________________
2009-02-03 00:14:33 | Anonymous writes:
Photo Avaliable :

acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx

Title Jack "Gelignite" Murray advertising U-Grip trousers in his D-type Jaguar racing car
Creator Hickson, Jack
Call Number Australian Photographic Agency - 02778

Above make reference to "Murray" crashing car in Australia 1957.

This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the State Library of NSW.

2015-05-06 19:46:58 | Chris writes:

I have a colour shot of XKD520 while in Davey's ownership, outside his Gold Coast petrol station:

www.facebook.com/photo.php

2017-06-13 15:27:33 | pauls writes:

It appears the facebook photo mentioned above is now published in Jaguar Magazine.
www.jaguarmagazine.com/rare-image-two-legends/

Here is one from the archives - and it's pretty special.

It's early 1957 and the place is Surfers Paradise on the Queensland Gold Coast.

The car is D-Type XKD520 which had just been purchased by Australia's greatest radio star Jack Davey (here) from Melbourne Jaguar sub-dealer and racer Bib Stillwell. Typical of Jack, it needed to be red, so it was repainted from BRG, and it was often driven 1000 kms from Davey's Sydney base to his AMPOL (petrol brand) service station and penthouse.

It was a major attraction in the tourist city, but sadly the car was heavily crashed on a return trip. The wreckage was sold to Frank Gardner who repaired it and raced it with great success.

After Frank went to Europe it was bought by Leaton Motors who raced it and sold it to Frank's friend and fellow racer Paul Hawkins, who in turn passed it to former Jaguar Student Apprentice Dickie Atwood who owned it for many years - keeping it in his Wolverhampton Mercedes-Benz showrooms.

It remains in pristine original condition, has been owned back in Australia, sold in Paris in 2014 - and wears its battle scars with pride.

Sadly, Jack Davey died of lung cancer in 1959.

2019-02-17 07:36:55 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.tomhartleyjnr.com/used/1955/classic/jaguar/1955-classic-jaguar-moira-swadlin ...

Seller's description:

1955 JAGUAR D-type, Green with Green Leather

MileageN/A miles Body Style Roadster Coupe Transmission Manual Engine Capacity 3781cc Fuel Petrol Chassis No. XKD520

One of the best production D-types in existence. Ordered new in 1955 by well-known Australian privateer Bib Stillwell and later owned by triple Touring Car Champion Frank Gardner and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Richard 'Dickie' Attwood with whom the car would reside with for over a decade. Campaigned successfully in period and is complete today with a very impressive and well documented history file, which includes invoices and correspondence dating back to 1955. Recently carefully examined by marque expert Chris Keith-Lucas who has personally known the car for over 40 years. His inspection report [which is within the history file] confirms the car still retains its; original cylinder head, original three carburettors, original body tag, original rear axle, original oil cooler, original plessy pump and original four brake callipers which were numbered from new. In addition, the car still retains its original FNR ignition key and barrel! XKD 520 is truly one of the very best examples of an incredible and groundbreaking motorcar.

2020-01-18 12:08:02 | pauls writes:

Car to return to auction 2/20

rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa20/paris/lots/r0068-1955-jaguar-d-type/842424

Auction description:

Lot Number 171

1955 Jaguar D-Type

€5,900,000 - €6,400,000 Did not sell

RM | Sotheby's - PARIS 5 FEBRUARY 2020

Chassis No. XKD 520

Engine No. E 2021-9

Body No. H 2020

Highly original example with period race history

The seventh customer D-Type produced

Delivered new and raced by four-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Bib Stillwell

Owned by 1970 Le Mans winner Richard Attwood

Decades of care by marque expert Chris Keith-Lucas

Chassis number XKD 520 is the seventh customer D-Type built, and it was ordered new in June 1955 through Australian importer Jack Bryson on behalf of Bib Stillwell, future four-time consecutive winner of the open-wheel Australian Drivers’ Championship. Arriving in Melbourne in January 1956, it was used extensively by Stillwell, setting numerous records at local circuits, including the Bathurst 500 and the Rob Roy Hill Climb, and it took an outright victory at the South Australia Trophy in Port Wakefield. After briefly being prepared for a run at a land-speed record, XKD 520 returned to sports car class competition, winning the Bathurst Road Racing Championship in 1956.

At the Moomba Tourist Trophy at Albert Park in Melbourne, XKD 520 roared to a 2nd-place finish in March 1956. It also competed in the Australian Tourist Trophy at the same location in November, where the car finished 5th. Mr Stillwell’s career in XKD 520 essentially concluded the following spring on 24 March 1957, when he took 3rd place at Albert Park.

A short time later, XKD 520 was purchased by AMPOL (the Australian Motorists Petrol Company) on behalf of Jack Davey, who was a regionally renowned wartime radio personality. It was entrusted to Bill Murray of Surfer’s Paradise and was prepared for the AMPOL-sponsored speed trials, but unfortunately, an accident during transport prevented the car’s participation. The D-Type was sold to enthusiast Frank Gardner, who rebuilt the still-capable race car and undertook a competition campaign of his own, taking 2nd place at Bathurst in 1958, 1st place at the Mount Druitt Hill Climb, and 3rd place at both of the Orange Racing Car Scratch Races (where he notably only lost to grand prix cars).

In November 1958, XKD 520 was sold to David Finch, who soon fitted the car with a factory-supplied 3.8-litre engine. This more powerful motor was equipped on later D-Types and sometimes sold as a replacement engine. The new engine prolonged the car’s competitive ability, allowing it to gamely participate in the Longford event of 1960 and to take 1st overall at the Queensland Tourist Trophy of 1961. Around this time a minor incident necessitated work to the front end, and Mr Finch took the opportunity to replace the nose with a long-nose bonnet crafted by Sydney body man Ian Standfield in the style of the Le Mans–winning long-nose D-Types.

In May 1962 this outstanding Jaguar was purchased by Ash Marshall and treated to a thorough freshening, which included chroming multiple components. The car passed through ownership by Peter Bradley and Richard Parkinson before being acquired in 1967 by future 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Richard Attwood. Attwood kept the car for some 10 years before selling it to Sir Angus Spencer Nairn.

In 1977 Chris Keith-Lucas picked the car up from Mr Attwood’s residence on behalf of the new owner. In a letter, of which a copy is included on file, Keith-Lucas recalls the car fondly: ‘It was generally quite well presented, but [it] needed a straightforward recommissioning before being sent to the new owner.’ Whilst under Lynx’s care, the car was tended by managing director Keith-Lucas—a recognised marque expert who later founded the highly regarded CKL Developments—commencing nearly 30 years of his attentions.

Angus used his D-Type lightly, taking part on several track days and competing in the Mille Miglia, although the car was never seriously raced during that time. In 2004, XKD 520 was acquired by Clive Jarman. It was sent back for maintenance work by Keith-Lucas at CKL Developments. At Jarman’s direction, CKL managed to source an original short-nose bonnet that had been disregarded decades ago during the restoration of an XKSS to replace the long-nose bonnet fitted in 1961. Importantly, the Australian-crafted long-nose bonnet is supplied with the car. Mr Keith-Lucas states: ‘In my opinion, [this] car remains one of the best production D-Types in existence today. To the very best of my knowledge, [it] has retained its principle components since the end of the 1950s. It is one of my favourite D-Types.’

Acquired by the current owner from the collection of noted Australian collector Peter Harburg in 2014, XKD 520 is accompanied by extensive documentation, including a FIA Historical Technical Passport. It is one of the earliest and most original examples of a customer-specification D-Type, and it is eligible for the most desirable events in the world. In the consignor’s ownership, it raced at the 2014 Goodwood Revival in the Lavant Cup, which that year featured a grid exclusively comprised of D-Types to celebrate the model’s sixtieth anniversary. Following a recent service by CKL, it remains ready to use and enjoy as a brilliant example of its breed and would truly be an exceptional addition to any world-class collection.