Mastering a veteran Le Mans Jaguar D-Type

Vintage car nut Gary Pearson shares how he built a 1955 Jaguar D-Type that raced at Le Mans from parts. #gwmasters
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[@andrewhapp8776]

I spent nearly 9 months of my life rebuilding a D-Type, XKD528. I took it down to the last nut and bolt. The days were long, I actually slept in her cockpit one night. All of the pain and sacrifice were worth it. There is nothing like a D-Type. The only cars that come close are a 289 Cobra or a Ferrari 250 SWB.

[@mikebeeton4982]

D type yes, Ferrari 250 swb Hmm, maybe, 289 Cobra Hmm, naa

[@ale16_69]

@@mikebeeton4982 they're pretty different cars... You can't compare the, the 250 wins just for her engine by the way

[@HarryMollyNut]

Ive got a suitable new name for this series "white privilege" some people are born in sub Saharan Africa with nothing & others inherit a sprawling country estate and spend more cash on spark plugs than others do on yearly food bill.

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

Yes, Sterling Moss was our hero in the 60s, and I think he drove a D Type. All of you were great drivers, and we admired all of you. We were Music Majors, and Everyone thought us a bit weird. But, they lined up to ride in my car!

[@beardedgeek973]

@@HarryMollyNut Oh go f yourself. History should be preserved.

[@scuderiaturin7071]

I grew up the next village to Gary, I used to cycle out there and peer over the fence. One day he let me in to see his garage. It has stuck with me all these years.

[@joelonzello4189]

I saw a wonderfull garage picking up a friends restored Kharmann Ghia in New Jersey. Old race cars Jags/Ferrari and even a Lancia Aurelia convertible. Wasn't expecting that !

[@mikebeeton4982]

So pleasant to hear someone who is an engineer and a driver/owner of such a wondrous beastie, who knows what he's about . Thank you ,could listen and learn from this informed gent

[@philhawley1219]

As a 4 year old boy I visited Browns Lane with my grandfather. On entering the front door the first thing I saw was a D type on a revolving stage with a spotlight or two illuminating it. I was mesmerized by it's powerful beauty. I still am.

[@velocita8842]

Arguably one the most beautiful race cars ever! Thank you!

[@darkgael0]

No argument here. The D and the E types...the most beautiful sports cars.

[@ale16_69]

@@darkgael0 250 gto, 250 gt swb, 250 tour de france, 275 gtc, 250 mm, 375 mm...

[@FFE-js2zp]

The original F is up there for #1. D, E, F, and thats it, worldwide, all time. The new F is, shockingly, one of the ugliest cars ever.

[@TheHelado36]

No argument !

[@steveross8326]

I remember my Father who worked man and boy for Rossleighs Newcastle taking me to see the 'D Type' in their showroom in the very late 50's ....I was absolutely stunned at how beautiful the car was......and still is! A great video by the way! Regards.

[@alisteroliver1669]

My grand father ended up with a D-type gearbox from the factory and put it in his Ford Zephyr. Brilliant movie brought back lots of memories from my childhood playing in the factory at Browns Lane as my parents didn't believe in baby sitters so off to work with Dad we went.

[@nodrogmay8275]

What a beautiful beast! Fantastic that this specific example has the best of homes and a true owner who deserves to share their joined moments in time. Thanx a million for sharing this masterpiece of british engineering and work of art with the world. Respect!!!!

[@RAF71chingachgook]

Long nose single seat D is the most beautiful, most cool (!) and most fascinating car of all time. Forget ANY Ferrari. This is THE ONE. Gary Pearson is the coolest guy and I am so glad he's the one to own this masterpiece. There is a point where a car can be so beautiful in it's environment, as shown so exquisitely in this amazing video, that the car transcends beauty to become perfection.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

Wow. In a world who raises d-bags on to a pedestal for others to admire and emulate, this man restores admiration for fine work and gentle manners.

[@HarryMollyNut]

Ive got a suitable new name for this series "white privilege" some people are born in sub Saharan Africa with nothing & others inherit a sprawling country estate and spend more cash on spark plugs than others do on yearly food bill.

[@peterscandlyn]

Wonderful video and story of a beautiful car. Thank you.

[@freddieallan3583]

You're one of the lucky few to be around beautiful cars like this . .I'm envious ...I can see the joy they bring you

[@bowlock9901]

Fantastic story and great piece of film to boot, well done, thanks, Matt.

[@johnbastille5483]

"You and the car are one." Reminds me of the feeling one has occasionally with cycling. Wonderful garage, D-Type (most beautiful car ever), and a man who understands the relationship with driving precise machinery. Thank you!

[@anidiotinaracingcar4874]

Best collection/workshop/chap ever

[@2.fresh767]

Beautiful car.

[@GlobalHawkEye1]

What a beautiful classic car

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

Love it! Thanks so much! I miss my little MGA-1600 twin cam convertible and my 1972 Jaguar Coupe, Mark IV...great cars! Looking for one now.

[@TheHelado36]

Can top the image of this beautiful car under the “perfect British weather “, speeding on the road ! This car just screams sophistication and simplicity !

[@2541968joey]

Great video & story, thanks. Just got home from a 400 mile tour in my '68 OTS E Type. I enjoy my E Type & working on it is a great pastime.

[@HarryMollyNut]

Ive got a suitable new name for this series "white privilege" some people are born in sub Saharan Africa with nothing & others inherit a sprawling country estate and spend more cash on spark plugs than others do on yearly food bill.

[@2541968joey]

@@HarryMollyNut Yep some people are privileged. Tiger Woods, Obama & all the NBA/NFL players...yep life is tough & when you live in the past that just doesn't help.

[@woolmer608]

The D type to me is exactly what a racing car should look like,pure functionality and beauty.Gary clearly loves his relationship with these stunning vehicles.

[@simonkelly8899]

understanding your car mechanically is the key to speed

[@golfo0011]

Great job!! Thanks

[@loveitorscrapit6673]

Great video it’s good to learn all about it. Thumbs up.

[@damage98]

brilliantly done ta

[@victorramirezable]

ONE OF MY FAVORITES CARS EVER. I GOT IN LOVED WHEN I WAS AROUND 16 WITH THE SOUND OF AN XK120 THAT AN OWNER USED TO TAKE IT TO A WORKSHOP NEAR MY HOME. THAT WAS A RED ROADSTER WITH ALUMINIUM BODY. I THINK THIS CAR WAS IMPORTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PANAMERICANA ROAD RACES. WILL NEVER FORGET THE SOUND OF THIS 6 CYLINDER IN LINE JAG.

[@terrencethorn9237]

Beautiful car. Just seeing and hearing it turns me into a Chesire cat.

[@powerofone1645]

That car's a real gem.

[@jokermaan1]

When I was a kid in the '50s I got an early Scalextric set for Christmas that came with a pair of D-types!

[@mikebeeton4982]

Hmm, lovely, lovely, nuff said

[@UberLummox]

Haha..."True love..." indeed. Very happy for you! Seems to me it and the others are in the right hands. In it for the passion, not the $$$.

[@michaeldesilvio221]

There's many modern convertibles that give you the sensation of speed.

[@nunziovarsalona2162]

Complimenti per il garage! Ho notato una Ferrari 250 le Mans..... E complimenti anche per tutto il resto.

[@mikespeedyfpv321]

Epic

[@terryharding7476]

I dont have cars like this,just not possible,but it's nice to know that there r other people like me,that truly believe they r entities into them selves,they r not just a collection of parts.

[@anthonyjackson280]

Not sure where he gets the idea that Jaguar were aircraft builders though... SS Cars (the original name prior WW2) was contracted during the war to repair some airframe components (but never did in practice).

[@marcelbeaty8671]

My uncle Ron beaty of forward engineering may have tinkered here and there on them.

[@hynekfuchs1378]

👍👍👍

[@jacklav1]

Since the D-type was an out and out racer, why didn’t they put the driver in the middle?

[@raypurchase801]

I've got a 1958 Austin A35 which I've rebuilt as a racer in British racing green. I'd prefer a D-Type but £5,000,000 is too much to pay for a car which doesn't even have a roof.

[@HarryMollyNut]

Ive got a suitable new name for this series "white privilege" some people are born in sub Saharan Africa with nothing & others inherit a sprawling country estate and spend more cash on spark plugs than others do on yearly food bill.

[@raypurchase801]

@@HarryMollyNut Yeah let's blame Whitey, it's all Whitey's fault, science and industry and the rule of law and a health service and education, yeah blame Whitey's white privilege. Yeah, take that Whitey! Yay!

[@gemabiem5584]

Unusual asymmetrical car.

[@jagitmax]

symmetrical, except for windshield and fin

[@LipeGabriel925]

THAT is a jaaaaag

[@TheHuntersHookPodcast]

best car in forza horizon 3

[@thesoultwins72]

So this car was involved in the infamous 1955 'Le Mans disaster'?

[@Hot80s]

none sexier

[@kevinortiz4755]

This car would be perfect with E-type wheels

[@jagitmax]

idiot

[@shanehnorman]

Sorry to be the hair-splitting nerd here, but, to qualify as a veteran, a car must have been built in or before 1905. That being said, this is a lovely video.

[@dafbloggs7376]

I think it's saying that it is a veteran of Le Mans, not a veteran car. I.e. it actually did race at Le Mans.

[@shanehnorman]

I do hope you're right. One would certainly expect Goodwood R&R to know such things!

[@geraldswain3259]

@@shanehnorman S T F U !..Nobody is interested .

[@adriancole3165]

"As good as new". Not, better than new. Absolutely gorgeous motor car and actually rebuilt to 120%

[@jagitmax]

See above, another D.A.

[@jpkatz1435]

My God, KILL the "music" we come for THE CAR. NOT the mind bender "music". It is so annoying. Just destroys the real ambiance of these remarkable machines.

[@barryfowles-zl5ib]

The title is incorrect, a veteran car has to be pre-1919 a vintage 1919 to 1930 everything else is at best, called a classic car.

[@jagitmax]

"Veteran", d.a. , because it was RACED AND SURVIVED.

[@jeanpauldurandthierry2371]

XKD 543 has never race in the past . It is a car who burn in the factory jaguar new, ans only front frame and rear axe are original . All the car is new with no history . See story in Haynes D type...

[@TheTheotherfoot]

That does not make it any less a beautiful car and rather special.

[@dipren443]

The car in the video is not 543. He says the serial number is XKD 506. Former works car that was dismantled at some point. He acquired the chassis and bunch of other original parts. I do see where he also assembled 543, but that is not this car.

[@philhohnen6193]

What does "history" really do for a car? A D-type, even one built painstakingly using original mechanicals, recently hand-formed aluminium body/monocoque, and even space frames, has exactly the identical visual impact and driving exhilaration as a bent and endlessly repaired, well-raced "original". The more examples on the roads, the more people will enjoy driving, or just viewing them. The "historic" appeal is the written and cinematic record and museum exhibits are a static waste imho...almost tantamount to idolatry...