JAGUAR is bringing the iconic D-Type race car back to life, 62 years after the last example was built in 1956.

A special continuation production has been announced, with the company going to extreme lengths to ensure the modern-day creations are identical to their retro siblings.

Jaguar had planned to build 100 D-Types back in 1955, however only 75 rolled off the production line. The final 25 will now be built thanks to Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Warwickshire in England.

The D-Type has a hat-trick of Le Mans 24 Hour victories to its name, winning the ’55, ’56, and ’57 editions of the world’s most famous endurance race.

Under the bonnet is a six-cylinder XK engine, which will also be recreated to period specifications without any fancy fuel injectors or turbos.

Jaguar has already built the first car of the new run (in the ’56 longnose spec), which will be publically revealed at Salon Retromobile in France

“The opportunity to continue the D-type’s success story, by completing its planned production run in Coventry, is one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects that our world-class experts at Jaguar Land Rover Classic are proud to fulfil,” said Jaguar Land Rover Classic Director Tim Hanning.

“Recreating the nine D-type-derived XKSSs was hugely satisfying, and an even bigger technical challenge than the six missing Lightweight E-types, but lessons learned from the XKSS project have given us a head start on the final 25 D-types,” Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic Engineering Manager, said

Aston Martin recently completed a continuation run of the DB4 GT, with two of those being sold to Australian buyers. Here’s hoping a ‘new’ D-Type makes its way Down Under as well.