The Jaguar D-Type arrived at Le Mans in 1955 as the definitive expression of British endurance engineering: a monocoque centre section, tubular subframe, and a 3,442 cc twin-cam XK inline-six producing approximately 250–270 bhp in race trim with dry-sump lubrication. Among the entries that year was a small team from across the Atlantic, fielded by Briggs Cunningham, that brought the D-Type's inherent capability under an unmistakably American banner. CMR now renders that precise moment in 1:18, built around the No. 9 car and its two drivers.
Monocoque Pioneer: The Jaguar D-Type
Developed directly from the C-Type, the D-Type introduced a monocoque aluminium centre section bonded to a tubular subframe — a construction approach then largely confined to aircraft. The distinctive tailfin stabiliser was functional, not decorative, aiding directional stability at the high speeds of the Mulsanne Straight. The 3.4-litre XK engine, with triple Weber carburettors and dry-sump lubrication, gave the 1955 short-nose specification a strong power-to-weight ratio that the works team used to take first and second overall that year.
The American Assault: Cunningham at Le Mans 1955
Briggs Cunningham entered three D-Types at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, each running the team's characteristic blue-and-white American racing livery. No. 9 was entrusted to Phil Walters — born Cecil Munns, one of the leading SCCA competitors of the period — and Walt Hansgen, a multiple SCCA champion who would become one of the most respected American sports car drivers of the decade. The pair did not finish, but their entry remains central to the narrative of that race: the 1955 Le Mans was won by Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb in a works D-Type and is also remembered as the site of the worst accident in motorsport history, in which over 80 spectators lost their lives.
CMR's 1:18 Scale Model
Classic Model Replicars — CMR — has reproduced the No. 9 Cunningham entry as a 1:18 scale model, replicating the blue-and-white livery, race number, and driver attribution of the Walters/Hansgen car as it appeared at Le Mans in 1955. The 1955 short-nose D-Type bodywork is accurately represented before the long-nose evolution that arrived in 1956, giving the model a specification-specific authenticity that separates it from later D-Type variants. CMR's range focuses on historically significant competition cars and this entry sits squarely within that brief.
Frequently asked questions
Who were Phil Walters and Walt Hansgen?
Phil Walters (real name Cecil Munns) was one of the leading SCCA drivers of the early 1950s, closely associated with Briggs Cunningham's programme. Walt Hansgen was a multiple SCCA champion and a prominent Cunningham team driver throughout the decade.
What was the Briggs Cunningham team's role at Le Mans in 1955?
Briggs Cunningham entered three Jaguar D-Types at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans in the team's blue-and-white American racing livery, including No. 9 for Walters and Hansgen. The Cunningham entries represented the most serious American privateer effort at Le Mans in that era.
Why is the 1955 Le Mans particularly significant?
The 1955 race was won by Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb in a works Jaguar D-Type, but it is also remembered as the site of the worst accident in motorsport history, in which a collision on the pit straight killed more than 80 spectators. It remains the most historically weighted event in endurance racing.
Who makes this 1:18 scale model?
The model is produced by CMR, Classic Model Replicars, a manufacturer specialising in historically significant competition cars in 1:18 scale.
