Jaguar Classic celebrates the 70th anniversary of the C-Type with a strictly limited number of new, hand-built units from the legendary 1950s racing car...
The C-Type, which was built between 1951 and 1953, was known for the enormous fluidity of the forms that the artist, aerodynamic expert and Jaguar designer Malcolm Sayer envisioned. The C-Type won the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans on its debut in 1951, the first of Jaguar's seven resounding victories in this French endurance event. Starting in 1952, the C-Type first introduced innovative disc brake technology to motorsport with a revolutionary system developed by Jaguar and Dunlop. Stirling Moss took the first victory in a vehicle with disc brakes at the Reims (France) Grand Prix and took part in the Mille Miglia race in Italy.
The C-Type again won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953, another first for a vehicle with disc brakes. In addition, it enjoyed enormous success with private owners, helping Jaguar to achieve second place in the first World Sports Championship.
"Driven by some of the most admired drivers in history, the C-Type laid the foundation for Jaguar's success in endurance racing and became synonymous with innovation in design and engineering. Seventy years later, the Jaguar Classic team He takes great pride in being able to take advantage of the latest advancements in manufacturing technology - in addition to using traditional techniques and unrivaled expertise - for a new generation of enthusiasts to enjoy this legendary vehicle." Dan Pink, Director of Jaguar Classics
Of the 53 Jaguar C-Type built in the 1950s, 43 were sold to private customers, but the C-Type specification for the public was limited to models with drum brakes, dual SU carburettors and 200 hp, such as it was common in 1951 racing cars.
Eight new replicas of the C-Type will be built ahead of the 2022 celebratory event for motorsport-inspired owners. All will follow the specification of the 1953 Le Mans competition team vehicle, including the 3.4-liter inline six-cylinder engine with disc brakes and a triple Weber 40DCO3 carburettor for 220 hp.
Jaguar Classic engineers have taken as a starting point the experience gained from the Jaguar Classic Lightweight E-Type, XKSS and D-Type programs, consulted Jaguar archives and collated scanned data from an original C-Type, as well as use the latest computer aided design technology to create the most authentic new production C-Type possible.
Accuracy to genuine 1953 specifications is ensured thanks to exclusive access to the company's original engineering sketches and histories created by the C-Type development team, which included Malcolm Sayer, Competition Director Lofty England and the engineers William Heynes, Bob Knight and Norman Dewis.
Engineering CAD data is further leveraged with an online configurator that has been specially designed to allow Jaguar Classic to offer customers the opportunity to virtually visualize their C-Type for the first time. The new tool at www.classicvisualiser.jaguar.com allows users to compare colors and coatings who can choose from 12 primeval exterior colors and eight interior colors. It is also possible to include options such as racing circles, a badge on the steering wheel and an inscription on the hood.
Stakeholder options are completed with roll-over protection or an FIA-approved harness restraint system. These new-production, authentic C-Type models are not only good for show off to the world, but can also be used for historic races, closed-road tests and circuits.
Visit www.jaguar.com/classic to learn more about the full range of Jaguar Classic vehicles, services, parts and experiences.
