Many years ago I met a rotund British gentleman named Colin Crabbe at Monterey who told me he went to Cuba and found a D-type Jag that had been smashed but other barn finders from America and Britain had passed it up thinking it was an E-type because it had a E-type bonnet. I was wondering if the complete story has ever been posted on line and where so I can read it? I also heard later it was two D-types but they couldn't have both been smashed, could they?
Anyway this was probably when Americans were forbidden to go to Cuba so the Brits had an advantage.
Also like to hear what he paid for them or it, as it were. Thanks

 

Information is scarce but there is little doubt Crabbe found the two cars in Cuba. The one you refer to is Chassis No. 755.

Very little is known about the history of this Jaguar XKSS. The first owner shipped it to Cuba where it took part in the high-speed run against XKSS Chassis No. 766 from Havana to Vera Dero beach in 1957.

In the 1980s, this car and XKSS 766 were found in Cuba by English collector Colin Crabbe. He succeeded in buying both cars, and in 1987 had them shipped to England where they were rebuilt by Hall & Fowler for the Austrian Stanislaus Count Donhoff collection. Chassis No 755 was sold to its present owner in 2009.

Graham

 

It has been decades since I talked to him but I think he said that, when you drove by the house, you saw a E-type facing outwards but on closer inspection he saw it had a D-type body from the doors back so that is why others missed it. Did he buy them for a song? Has this story been in print anywhere?

 

Information is scarce but there is little doubt Crabbe found the two cars in Cuba. The one you refer to is Chassis No. 755.

Very little is known about the history of this Jaguar XKSS. The first owner shipped it to Cuba where it took part in the high-speed run against XKSS Chassis No. 766 from Havana to Vera Dero beach in 1957.

In the 1980s, this car and XKSS 766 were found in Cuba by English collector Colin Crabbe. He succeeded in buying both cars, and in 1987 had them shipped to England where they were rebuilt by Hall & Fowler for the Austrian Stanislaus Count Donhoff collection. Chassis No 755 was sold to its present owner in 2009.

Graham

Interesting, especially since but 16 XKSS models were built, and rather like Ferrari Jaguar cheated with the chassis numbers purely for homologation purposes. The sequence conveniently went 701 (the "7" standing for 1957), 704, 707 and finished at 728 - for a while - then recommenced with 757,60,63,66 and finally 769. Yes, Colin Crabbe found two cars in Cuba, but having seen and gone all over one I noted immediately that the engine and chassis numbers had been retapped, so I am still doubtful as to whether one is a fake or genuine.

 

I have information on the second Jaguar found in Cuba if anyone is interested, I have a picture of the car too.

 

I'd love to have more information on the car please.