Ultra-rare Jaguar XKSS set to sell at London auction for £11MILLION - only six British motors have sold for more at the block

-This is one of the 16 original XKSS produced in 1957 before the Browns Lane factory fire claimed the 9 others

-It is the first time an XKSS is being offered at a European auction - and it is likely to break the record high price 

Vanishingly rare, utterly beautiful, and with blistering performance.'

Those are the words used by classic car experts when describing a 'rare and truly iconic' 1957 Jaguar XKSS that will be sold at a London auction early next month.

It is expected to generate bids in the region of £9million to £11million when it goes under the hammer at a special sale in the capital on 2 November.

But while it has been dubbed 'one of the most desirable British sports car ever made,' even its higher estimate will pale in comparison to the prices paid for other UK-made motors that have gone to the block in recent years.

In fact, six other British models have sold for more than £11million - and we'll show you all of them...

('One of the most desirable British sports car ever made': This is one of the 16 original Jaguar XKSS models produced by the British marque in 1957 before its Coventry factory fire destroyed the remaining 9 vehicles being built.)

The limited-edition model was born of 16 D-Type racing chassis that were converted to road-legal two-seaters primarily for the then-lucrative US market in 1957, having been made available after Jaguar took the decision to withdraw from racing.

However, tragedy struck on 12 February 1957 when a fire broke out at the company's Browns Lane factory in Coventry, destroying the nine unsold motors.

This 1957 example is one of the surviving 16 originals, which ultimately makes it far more valuable than the latter creations.

RM Sotheby’s, which is responsible for finding a new keeper for chassis number 'XKD 540'.

(When it comes to collectible British sports cars from yesteryear, it arguably doesn't get more desirable than the XKSS)

(The limited-edition XKSS road car was born out of the remaining Jaguar D-Type racing chassis after the British marque had taken the decision to withdraw from racing at the end of 1956. The 25 cars were due to made with the US market in mind)

(Tragedy struck on 12 February 1957 when a fire broke out at the company's Browns Lane factory in Coventry, destroying the nine unsold motors. However, the car seen here that's heading to RM Sotheby's London auction is one of the 16 originals)

It is one of just two XKSSs to retain its D-Type competition XKD chassis number .
At that time it was up

This XKSS was sold to Jack Browning in 1959 and subsequently went to Australia in 1962, where it was raced locally. 

Following its time in the Antipodes, the car was purchased in 1972 by noted Jaguar enthusiast Bryan Corser, before being sold to long-time owner Hermann Graf von Hatzfeldt in 1985. 

(RM Sotheby’s says chassis number 'XKD 540' is an 'exceptional high-performance machine)

(While many XKSS models lived their lives as road cars, this particular example also boasts a storied racing history including competitive entries in both the United Kingdom and Australia)

(It is one of just two XKSSs to retain its D-Type competition XKD chassis number and was kept by Jaguar until April 1957)

Ref: Ultra-rare Jaguar XKSS set to sell at London auction for £11MILLION - only six British motors have sold for more at the block (dailymail)

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