03/09/2026
Steve McQueen’s Jaguar: The Coolest XKSS Ever?
1957 Jaguar XKSS, Steve McQueen
What's better than racing a Jaguar D-type? A D-type you can drive on the road. Fast, glamorous, and exceptionally rare, the 3.4-litre Jaguar XKSS was already a sensation before Hollywood actor SteveMcQueen bought his from TV personality Bill Leyden, who in turn had bought it from Riverside Raceway designer James Edward Peterson. After that day in late 1958, and especially once immortalized in a photoshoot for Life magazine, the XKSS became untouchably cool thanks to the McQueen effect.
McQueen nicknamed his XKSS 'Green Rat', repeatedly tested its licence-threatening performance with abandon, and made it uniquely his. The fifth of just 16 examples built, 'XKSS 713' wasn't always green, it was white with a red interior, but the dark British Racing Green paintwork, and the black leather interior retrim by upholsterer Tony Nancy, were at McQueen's request. As were the polished Dunlop wheels, and a specially made glove box door fitted by hot rod artist Von Dutch.
McQueen briefly parted with the car in the 1970s, but realizing the error of his ways he bought it back in 1977. 'XKSS 713' is now in the collection of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California.