The Jaguar D-Type, like its successful forerunner the C- Type, was a factory-built race car intended for both works and customer use. Although it shared the same straight 6 XK engine (initially in 3.4-litre, then later in 3.8-litre form), it was radically different in both design and construction. Its alloy monocoque chassis copied a construction method commonplace in the aviation industry, yet it was revolutionary in motor sport. The chassis was essentially formed of two parts, its central monocoque plus a front subframe that was bolted to it and carried the engine, front suspension, brakes, bonnet etc. Another motor sport innovation copied from aviation was the use of a fuel safety bladder mounted within the monocoque. The engine was dry-sumped and mounted at eight deg. in order to reduce the car’s frontal area. This along with the smooth underbody, and on the works cars, a fin behind the drivers’ head, greatly aided aerodynamic efficiency, which was of utmost importance to designer Malcolm Sayer, who had a background in aviation design. The D-Type’s main goal was to achieve victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, plus other blue ribband endurance events such as the Reims and Sebring 12 Hours, so any increase in top speed was highly prized given the nature of these circuits. The D-type achieved a top speed of 172mph, considerably greater than that of its rivals. A dedicated production line was set up at the Browns Lane factory from which 51 customer cars were built in 1955, whilst 8 more were built by the separate Competitions shop (5 works cars, 2 for Ecurie Ecosse and 1 for Equipe National Belge).
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A further 6 were built by the Competitions shop in 1956, totalling a production run of 71 D-types. During this time Jaguar had decided to build 25 unsold chassis into a limited run of 25 production road cars to be known as the XKSS. However a terrible factory fire destroyed 9 of the unbuilt monocoques and so just 16 XKSS were built in period. The D-type made its competition debut at the 1954 Le Mans 24 Hours proving fast, but ultimately finishing second due to fuel filter issues caused by sand in the fuel. Just a few weeks later though Peter Whitehead and Ken Wharton scored it first victory in the Reims 12 Hours. Just six cars were built by Jaguar as works entries in 1954. By 1955 Jaguar had improved the design of the works cars by fitting a longer nose and longer fin. Both works and customer Jaguar D-types achieved countless successes across the globe during 1955-56, but Jaguar withdrew from racing at the end of 1956, leaving customers to campaign for honours. Of course a few select teams enjoyed close works support, with Ecurie Ecosse being the top team. Indeed the team took back to back victories at Le Mans in 1956 and 1957, and the latter season was to prove the model’s greatest at Le Mans with 5 of the top 6 positions filled by D-types.
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XKD 545 was the 33rd customer D-type assembled, being completed sometime in November 1955. It received engine #E 2052-9, gearbox #GBD 153 and body #H 2045. Factory test driver Norman Dewis drove it at the MIRA test track on three separate occasions (as he did with every single D-type). Norman ran XKD 545 in for 200, then 75 then 30 miles respectively. Factory records show it was signed off as complete in early December and prepared for shipping to the USA on 16th December, as it had been allocated to Jaguar’s US distributor, Max Hoffman. Hoffman specified a most attractive Pastel Blue paint with blue leather interior for the car. In early 1956 XKD 545 was sold to its first owner, Jake Kaplan who wasted no time and entered his new car in the Sebring 12 Hours, co-droving with Russ Boss. The grid for Sebring was interestingly not set by qualifying times, but rather by engine displacement, from largest at the front to smallest at the back. Kaplan and Buss’ D-type was one of 9 in the grid and they received race and grid number 12. The pair appeared to be running fairly well during the race, but retired after completing 120 laps due to brake issues. XKD 545 then next appeared at a Motor Press Day held at Thompson Raceway in Connecticut on 6th June where it was interestingly driven by no less than Briggs Cunningham amongst others, who gave rides to the press. 

Kaplan sold XKD 545 after only a few months, no doubt for a profit, since he was a car dealer after all!. Interestingly Kaplan’s Jaguar later became one of the leading Jaguar dealerships in the USA, so he clearly had a strong passion for the brand. During summer 1956 XKD 545 was sold to well known SCCA racer George Constantine. Constantine's first race in his new car was at the Montgomery Airport Races on 19th August. However the car retired with mechanical woes. Constantine then raced the car in the SCCA Labor Day Meeting at Thompson Raceway, Connecticut on 1st/2nd September, finishing 3rd in one race, but retiring from the second race with the car locked in 3rd gear. Two weeks later Constantine entered the car for the 1956 Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix. This was to be a significant race being held on the newly redeveloped circuit. However construction delays meant the surface was only finished the day before, and a dispute between the SCCA and circuit management, casued the SCCA recommending to its members that they boycott the race due to the surface breaking up after qualifying (in which Constantine took pole in the main race). However a show of hands during the drivers’ briefing showed all present wished to go ahead. Constantine romped away from the opposition to take victory having lapped all but 4 of the other drivers. 
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On 12th October XKD 545 interestingly competed in the Jaguar Owners’ Association event at Mont Gabriel Hill Climb in Canada where it finished 1st overall, although little is known about the other cars present. Constantine then ran XKD 545 again at Thompson Raceway where he finished an impressive 3rd behind John Fitch and Walt Hansgen, both also in D-types. Constantine then had XKD 545 shipped down to Nassau in the Bahamas to participate in the Third Annual International Bahamas Speed Week. He entered two events, the Governor’s Trophy (in which he finished 5th and the Nassau Trophy (finishing 5th again) whilst his wife Mary took 6th in the Ladies Race. Thereafter Constantine used XKD 545 sporadically having bought an Aston Martin DB2/4. In 1957 he ran the D-type again at the SCCA Labor Day Event at Thompson Raceway, but retired. He then raced XKD 545 four more times, all in 1958, at Cumberland, Bridgehampton, Lime Rock and Montgomery. Late in 1958 he bought an Aston Martin DBR2, and sold the D-type to Tommy Friedman of Atlanta, Georgia. Friedman was active in regional SCCA events in the 1950s and 1960s with a variety of sports cars including a Lotus Eleven, Sadler, Ferrari 250 TR and XKD 545. His first event in his new Jaguar was the 'Confederate Grand Prix' (5/6 September 1959) held at Sharpe's Field in Tuskegee, Alabama where he took part in three races. His next outing was in the SCCA meeting held at Napier Field in Dothan, Alabama on 25th October . In March 1960 Friedman competed with XKD 545 in four races at the SCCA Central Florida Regional Sports Car Races at Daytona International Speedway. 
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Sometime in 1960 Friedman sold XKD 545 to Canadian racer Bill Sadler. Sadler is only known to have competed in XKD 545 twice, during 1960, although may have used it more often since documentation from many of the Canadian club races is scant. It is known that one race was the Carlin 300 at Harewood Acres, with the other race being the 6 Hour Sundown GP at the same circuit, although Sadler retired from both. In 1961 Sadler it sold to fellow Canadian John Cannon who only used the car twice, albeit to great effect both times. Cannon won at Lime Rock, then again in the Grand Valley Grand National at Mosport, Canada. During his ownership Cannon repainted it cream. In 1962 Cannon sold XKD 545 to Hugh Dixon who rebuilt the car painting it red with a 12 inch blue central stripe. Dixon raced it twice at Mosport (retiring) and St Eugene (result unknown), plus in two hill climbs at Mont Gabriel (3rd) and Mont Tremblant (3rd again). The car then sat unused up until 1967 when he sold it to the Vintage Car Store of Nyack, New York for $3,900. The D-type was then next advertised in Motor Sport magazine in July 1969 for £2,750. I971 it was purchased by Peter Ashworth of England who inrepatriated the car to the UK and commented a respray to its original pale blue, albeit with the addition of a fin and wore the registration XKD 545J. Ashworth used the car sparingly and around 1978 it was sold to Brian Classic, who presumably consigned it to Coys of Kensington. Bought from Coys by renowned Australian collector Peter Briggs of Perth, XKD 545 then spent over two decades in Australia as part of Briggs’ York Motor Museum.
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Briggs had XKD 545 restored by Classic Autocraft in Queensland. Since Briggs wanted it in perfect condition for his museum,  So a new body was crafted, although the original battle-scared example was fortunately kept with the car.  This appears to have also happened with other Jaguars they restored, and it has been said it was simply to reduce labour costs. By this time it was painted British racing green. Briggs eventually elected to sell the D-type via Christies’ Pebble Beach auction in 2000. Renowned Brazilian collector and racer Carlos Monteverde then acquired XKD 545 and enjoyed it for just over 2 years before it briefly passed to Scott Gauthier of Scottsdale, Arizona, with whom it stayed for four years. Well known London dealer Gregor Fisken then sold the car to its penultimate owner Tony Pickering of the UK in 2007. Pickering’s son Gavin successfully campaigned the car with success in a variety of historic events throughout Europe, before XKD 545 passed to the current owner in 2014. Since then it has been campaigned with success in a variety of events in Europe, always being maintained with no expense spared. The car includes an impressive spares package including its original body, a freshly rebuilt wide-angle 3.4-litre engine, another incomplete engine, a close ratio gearbox, rear axle plus many more items. In addition XKD 545 has an extensive amount of documentation covering its continuous history. Today XKD 545 presents in superb condition, and is ready for its next custodian to enjoy on the road and/or track.