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Steve McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS: The Legend of the Green Rat The allure of the open road beckons, and with it, a legend—Steve McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS. This isn’t just a car; it’s a time machine, a rolling testament to Hollywood’s Golden Age, and a symbol of raw, untamed cool. Join us as we take a deep dive into the history, the legend, and the enduring legacy of the XKSS that once barreled through the hills of Los Angeles with the King of Cool at the helm. The Man Behind the Machine: Steve McQueen, the Icon Before we delve into the specifics of the XKSS, let’s talk about the man who made it famous: Steve McQueen. Born in 1930, McQueen’s early life was anything but glamorous. A troubled youth with a difficult past, he found solace and purpose in the military and later in the world of acting. He possessed a rare blend of vulnerability and machismo, a magnetic charisma that drew audiences in and kept them captivated. McQueen was more than just an actor; he was a force of nature. His rebellious spirit and anti-hero persona redefined what it meant to be a leading man in Hollywood. From his breakout role in The Blob (1958) to his iconic performances in The Great Escape (1963), Bullitt (1968), and Le Mans (1971), he cemented his status as the “King of Cool.” But behind the silver screen persona was a man who lived life in the fast lane, a gearhead at heart who lived for speed and the open road. The Allure of the 1957 Jaguar XKSS While many remember McQueen for his iconic roles, his true passion lay with his collection of cars and motorcycles. He owned dozens of vehicles throughout his life, but one stood out above the rest: his 1957 Jaguar XKSS. This wasn’t just any car; it was a rare breed, a street-legal version of Jaguar’s legendary D-Type race car. Jaguar’s D-Type had dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the mid-1950s, but by 1957, it was becoming obsolete on the racetrack. Rather than let these magnificent machines gather dust, Jaguar took a bold step: they converted 25 of the D-Types into street-legal roadsters. The result was the XKSS, a car that combined the raw performance of a race car with the civility of a road car. The Making of a Legend: From Track to Street The D-Type itself was a marvel of engineering. Introduced in 1954, it featured a revolutionary monocoque chassis, a lightweight yet incredibly strong structure that provided exceptional handling and stability. Power came from Jaguar’s legendary XK engine, a potent 3.4-liter inline-six that produced around 250 horsepower in race trim. With its aerodynamic bodywork and racing pedigree, the D-Type was a force to be reckoned with on the track. When Jaguar decided to convert these cars for street use, they made several modifications to comply with road regulations. A full-width windscreen was added, the iconic dorsal fin was removed, and a convertible soft top and side curtains were fitted. The interior was upgraded with upholstered seats, a passenger-side door, and bumperettes. While these additions made the car road-legal, they did little to tame its wild spirit. The Birth of the “Green Rat”: McQueen’s XKSS McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XKSS, chassis number XK.SS.713, was originally a right-hand-drive model imported to the United States in April 1957. Its first owner was James Peterson, a building contractor who played a role in the development of Riverside International Raceway. Peterson eventually sold the car to Bill Leyden, a local TV personality who often parked it on a studio lot in Hollywood. It was there that a young, ambitious actor first laid eyes on the legendary Jag. McQueen purchased the XKSS in 1958 for $4,000, a significant sum for the time. He immediately made his mark on the car, repainting it from its original white to a deep British Racing Green. He enlisted the help of renowned upholsterer Tony Nancy to reupholster the interior in black leather, a fitting choice for the King of Cool. Pinstriper Von Dutch, a friend of McQueen’s, fabricated a metal glovebox door to keep the actor’s sunglasses secure during spirited drives. McQueen affectionately nicknamed the car the “Green Rat,” a nod to its rough-and-tumble character. The King of Cool Takes the Wheel: Nights on Mulholland Drive McQueen’s XKSS wasn’t just a showpiece; it was a car meant to be driven, and driven hard. He would often take the Green Rat out for late-night drives along Mulholland Drive, the winding mountain road that snakes through the Hollywood Hills. This was his playground, a place where he could push the car to its limits and escape the pressures of Hollywood stardom. Dick Messer, director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, recalled McQueen’s nocturnal drives: “People who lived up in the Hollywood Hills would hear the Jag coming and say, ‘Yep, there goes McQueen.’ The Jag was his favorite.” These midnight runs were the stuff of legend, with stories of McQueen carving through corners, the roar of the XK engine echoing through the canyons. The Driving Experience: Raw, visceral, and intoxicating Our journey to recreate the magic of those Mulholland drives begins with the daunting task of fitting into the XKSS’s compact cockpit. The cabin is a driver’s paradise, albeit a tight one. The leather-wrapped steering wheel sits close to the chest, and the large Smiths gauges stare back at you, promising performance. The starter motor cranks with a satisfying growl, the 12.0:1 compression ratio of the XK engine demanding respect. The engine barks to life with a throaty roar, the side-exit exhaust system offering little in the way of muffling. It’s a sound that’s pure, unadulterated race car—a symphony of mechanical prowess that sends shivers down your spine. Shifting gears is a physical experience. The stubby, aluminum-knobbed shifter requires a firm hand, but when treated with authority, it slots into gear with the precision of a well-oiled machine. First gear is deceptively tall, capable of reaching speeds well over 60 mph, while second and third are spaced closely to keep the engine in its power band. Fourth gear is long, a nod to the XKSS’s racing heritage and its ability to devour long straights with ease. The handling is telepathic. The road surface feeds directly through the steering wheel, providing an unfiltered connection between driver and machine. The clutch is quick without being grabby, and with around 300 horsepower on tap, the XKSS isn’t just quick—it’s genuinely fast, even by today’s standards. Five-second 0-60 times were the stuff of dreams in 1957, and the XKSS delivers that performance with a visceral thrill that’s hard to match. The only component that doesn’t quite live up to the rest of the package is the brakes. While the Dunlop discs provide ample stopping power, the pedal feels lifeless, lacking the feedback of the rest of the car. However, considering this is a street-legal race car from the 1950s, it’s a minor quibble in an otherwise exhilarating experience. Preserving a Legend: The Enduring Legacy of the Green Rat After McQueen’s untimely death in 1980, his estate was liquidated, and the Green Rat found new owners. It passed through the hands of several collectors, including Richard Freshman, who commissioned a high-quality restoration by Lynx in England. Freshman insisted that McQueen’s modifications remain intact, ensuring that the car’s authentic character was preserved for generations to come. In 2000, the XKSS was acquired by Margie and Robert E. Petersen, founders of MotorTrend and patrons of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Today, the Green Rat resides at the museum, a crown jewel in its impressive collection. It’s a tangible link to a bygone era, a reminder of the golden age of Hollywood and the man who defined cool for a generation. The Modern Interpretation: What a 2026 XKSS Might Look Like Imagine, for a moment, that Jaguar were to resurrect the legendary XKSS for the modern era. What would it look like? Our concept for a 2026 Jaguar XKSS envisions a car that honors its racing heritage while embracing cutting-edge technology. It’s smaller, lighter, and more focused than today’s XKR, with a design that blends traditional Jaguar styling cues with modern aerodynamic advancements. Under the hood, we envision a high-output, naturally aspirated version of Jaguar’s current AJ-V8 engine. A 4.5-liter displacement would likely produce between 400 and 450 horsepower, delivered through a six-speed manual transaxle—a nod to the purist driving experience that McQueen cherished. The interior would combine the best of both worlds: the luxurious materials and craftsmanship of a Jaguar roadster with the functional simplicity of a race car. Plenty of wood and leather would abound, but without the unnecessary clutter of modern infotainment systems. The focus would be on the driving experience, with intuitive controls and