Vehicle Description
One of the world's most iconic sports racing cars must surely be
the Jaguar C-Type. Derived from the sublime and successful XK120,
the C-Type (C for competition) was born for a single purpose, to
win the Le Mans 24 hour race, which it duly did first time out in
1951 when XKC003, driven by Peter Whitehead and Peter Walker,
crossed the finish line some 77 miles ahead of the second placed
car. This victory ushered in a period of domination by Jaguar in
sports car racing that few other marques have equalled, initially
with the C-Type and subsequently with its cousin the D-Type.
While based on the mechanicals of the XK120 and superficially
resembling its progenitor, the C-Type was substantially different
in its construction with a lightweight tubular frame devised by
Jaguar's chief engineer William Heynes and an all-aluminium
aerodynamic body developed by Malcolm Sayer, Jaguar's in-house
designer. The engine was tuned and the front and rear suspension
thoroughly developed. Perhaps most importantly, however, was the
development of disc brakes which Jaguar developed with Dunlop and
used to great effect in the 1952 Reims sports car race where
Stirling Moss, driving XKC005, scored the first victory of a car
fitted with such brakes. Further refinements continued and in 1953
a factory-entered C-Type (XKC 051) driven by Duncan Hamilton and
Tony Rolt secured Jaguar's second victory at Le Mans with the other
team cars finishing in second and fourth place.
The car offered here was constructed over a two year period by JD
Classics to emulate this Le Mans winner, which must be the ultimate
evolution of the works cars. The design brief was uncompromising
down to the last detail and the finished result is spectacular.
The car incorporates a number of original C-Type components and was
built around a tubular chassis frame to original C-Type
specification and features original front and rear adjustable
torsion bar suspension as on the original cars, rack and pinion
steering with adjustable column, a fully adjustable pedal box and
adjustable shock absorbers. An original 3.4 litre XK120 engine was
rebuilt to fast road competition specification, which includes a
custom-made baffled sump, lightened and balanced crankshaft,
polished connecting rods, Omega pistons, ultra-light and balanced
flywheel, competition clutch, high capacity oil pump, high capacity
water pump, custom made oil filter housing, fully ported and
polished big valve head, triple 45 DCO3 Sandcast Weber
carburettors, period competition rubber bag fuel tank, competition
distributor with twin coils, competition leads and C-Type HT
spreader.
The car also features a C-Type radiator, the correct braking system
powered by a Plessey pump driven off the gearbox, concealed
electronic ignition as well as an aluminium dashboard, finished as
per the original cars with period correct clocks, gauges and flick
switches. The cockpit is fitted with aluminium driver and passenger
seats, covered in high quality Grey West of England cloth. Heat
resistant silver matting covers the transmission tunnel and gearbox
shroud.
The hand crafted body is dimensionally correct, constructed from 16
gauge aluminium with a single driver's door. Particular attention
was paid to the underside of the bonnet, bonnet scoop and overall
finish. The car is finished in Ecurie Ecosse Metallic Blue with
body coloured wire wheels.
With a total production of just 53 cars (55 if one includes the two
experimental chassis) any original C-Type is an incredibly rare and
desirable car which will command a correspondingly high price. This
fabulous example provides a unique opportunity to acquire the next
best thing to an original, a hand built race ready JD Classics
C-Type, which is near identical to the 1953 Le Mans winning team
car and offered at a fraction of the cost.
Please contact us for further details.
