Steve McQueen 1957 Jaguar XKSS

Movie star Steve McQueen famously said: “Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.” Indeed McQueen’s passion for fast cars and racing will forever live on in his movies such as Bullit and Le Mans.

McQueen’s love for speed and his enviable collection of exotic sports cars were renown; amongst his cars was a 1957 Jaguar XKSS Roadster that McQueen must have been quite fond of as he purchased the vehicle twice. He first purchased the XKSS in 1959, sold it in 1969, and repurchased it in 1977. After that, the XKSS remained in McQueen’s personal garage until the actor’s death in 1980.

McQueen’s XKSS has the beautiful Moto-Lita D-Type steering wheel and it’s the only XKSS with polished wheels. The car also features a number of modifications requested by McQueen. First, he had the car painted British racing green. Secondly, he replaced the original interior with black leather, a custom job executed by Tony Nancy – world-famous drag racer, automobile upholsterer, designer and builder of hotrods. Thirdly, McQueen had a lockable door fitted to the glove compartment as the XKSS’ were delivered without one. For this job McQueen turned to his friend and pin-striper Von Dutch, who is famous for customizing vehicles. All these modifications make this 1957 Jaguar XKSS one of a kind.

Only 16 Jaguar XKSS’ were built before the factory and the moulds were destroyed by fire.

McQueen called his XKSS the Green Rat, and true to form, he drove it fast. While driving it, McQueen had his drivers licence suspended twice.

At the core, the XKSS is a limited edition, on road version, of the Jaguar D-Type racing car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955, 1956, and 1957.

After Jaguar withdrew from racing, a number of D-type chassis remained at the Browns Lane factory; Sir William Lyons resolved to recoup some of the costs by converting a number of them to full road-going specifications.

Though the changes remained minimal such as a larger windscreen, a folding soft-top, a passenger side door, luggage grid and extra luxury trim, the vehicles did appeal to the lucrative American market for high-performance European sports cars.

Today the Steve McQueen 1957 Jaguar XKSS is owned by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Of the original 16 XKSS' 12 were in attendance.

Purr-fect!