One of the coolest cars on earth currently resides at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The 1957 Jaguar XKSS that was once owned by Steve McQueen is pretty much priceless at this point. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get close to the experience (provided you have a lot of experience and money).
Built by Dan Mooney of Team CJ a restorer of fine automobiles in Austin, Texas, his experience with classic cars has led to the creation of a truly stunning replica.
The XKSS was based on the Jaguar D-Type race car that won Le Mans in 1955, 1956, and 1957. Once regulations changed to make it ineligible for racing, Jaguar decided to turn it into a road car that, of course, McQueen couldn’t resist.
Read Also: Valued At $17 Million, It’s No Wonder Jaguar Is Making More XKSS Roadsters Like This One
Featured on Jay Leno’s Garage, the car it references is clearly one of great import to these two fanatics, who trade stories about having seen it around and both of whom have actually driven the original.
Built as a passion project, this XKSS replica isn’t quite like the those Jaguar has been producing lately, that return to the original blueprints and are produced with such fidelity that they are often considered continuation cars.
Instead, it’s based on an E-Type that has been modified to look like the original car, at a price that can be managed by a no doubt wealthy, but not robber-baron-rich individual.
“Under the hood, or bonnet I would say, I have not tried to replicate exactly the McQueen car just for practical reasons, really. One big difference between this car and the original cars is this has E-Type independent rear suspension,” said Mooney. “And really the car is running on E-Type mechanical drivetrain.”
Still, Leno says that despite all the changes, it drives just like the genuine article. It’s a bit of an inspiration, then, for all those who dream of a famous car but have no hope of being able to ever afford one.