The legendary 1950s sports car that sent Jaguar leaping into its golden age of racing success is being recreated in the 21st century with a £2million price tag.
An exclusive limited run of the curvaceous C-type ‘Continuation’ cars are being hand-built at Jaguar’s world-class Classic Works facility on the outskirts of Coventry, close to where the original cars were created.
Jaguar Classic is launching the eight collectors’ models to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the legendary C-type competition car, which took seven victories at the gruelling Le Mans 24-hour endurance races and was driven by leading racing champions including Sir Stirling Moss.
It paved the way for decades of racing success that followed, and for classic cars like the D-type and much loved E-Type of the 1960s and ‘70s.
Reborn racer: Jaguar has announced it will produce 8 C-Type ‘Continuation’ cars, which will each cost between £1million and £2million, depending on specification
The new Jaguar Classic C-Type Continuation programme will allow eight historic motor racing enthusiasts to buy a brand new and authentic factory-built example of the car which pioneered the use of disc-brakes in racing – fitted out as the ultimate 1953 disc-braked Jaguar ‘works’ version.
Although no official prices have been announced, and will depend on the individual specifications sought, they will be in line with earlier Continuation ‘ cars which have sold between £1million and £2million. Given the provenance of the C-Type, prospective customers should brace themselves for the upper level.
Certified for use on the track, the C-Types with their 1950s technology won’t however be legal on UK roads.
The eight new C-Type Continuation cars will be built ahead of a racing-inspired celebration event for their owners in 2022. The first re-born C-Type is under construction now and will be completed this summer.
Each of the eight cars will reflect the 1953 Le Mans-winning works team car specification, including the 3.4-litre straight-six engine with triple Weber 40DCO3 carburettors for 220bhp and, significantly, the pioneering disc brakes.
An exclusive limited run of just eight curvaceous C-Type ‘Continuation’ cars are being hand-built at Jaguar’s world-class Classic Works facility on the outskirts of Coventry, close to where the original cars were created
The original C-Type took seven victories at the gruelling Le Mans 24-hour endurance races and was driven by leading racing champions including Sir Stirling Moss
Of the original 53 Jaguar C-Types built in the 1950s, 43 were sold to private owners. But the production C-Type specification was limited to drum-braked cars with twin SU carburettors and 200bhp, in the style of the 1951 works cars
Jaguar Classic said: ‘Our Continuation programme will allow Jaguar customers to purchase a new factory-built example of the ultimate 1953 Le Mans 24 Hours-winning C-Type for the first time.’
And it added: ‘Not just for show, these authentic new C-Types will be eligible for historic racing, track and closed-road use.’
Jaguar explained: ‘They are only intended for private track use, not public roads – as a brand-new car it would be required to meet current regulations for road use, which are not compatible with its authentic 1950s design and engineering specification.’
Well-heeled customers will be able to choose one of 12 authentic exterior colours and eight interior colours that are available. Here are just two examples
Each of the eight cars will reflect the 1953 Le Mans-winning works team car specification, including the 3.4-litre straight-six engine with triple Weber 40DCO3 carburettors for 220bhp and, significantly, the pioneering disc brakes
Owners will also be able to spec a variety of things in their ultra-expensive cars, including roundels, badges, FIA-approved seatbelts and if they want rollover protection
The Jaguar C-Type is the car which truly set the Coventry firm on its path to racing glory.
Originally made between 1951 and 1953, it was famed for its exceptionally fluid aerodynamic shape by Jaguar Cars designer and artist Malcolm Sayer.
It sprang to fame when it won the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours on its debut in 1951, scoring the first of Jaguar’s seven outright wins at the French endurance race.
From 1952, the C-Type pioneered the adoption of innovative disc brake technology in motorsport, with a revolutionary system developed by Jaguar and Dunlop scoring the first win for a disc-braked car with Stirling Moss at the Reims Grand Prix in France and contesting the 1000-mile Mille Miglia in Italy.
The C-Type won the Le Mans 24 Hours again in 1953, another first for disc brakes, and also enjoyed success in the hands of private owners. This contributed to Jaguar finishing vice-champion in the inaugural World Sportscar Championship.
Of the original 53 Jaguar C-Types built in the 1950s, 43 were sold to private owners. But the production C-Type specification was limited to drum-braked cars with twin SU carburettors and 200bhp, in the style of the 1951 works cars.
The cars are being brought up to the 21st Century, even featuring a cradle for a smartphone or a small screen
A drawing of the original Jaguar C-Type. The British maker will use 3D scanning to replica every part when hand-building the 8 cars
Jaguar Classic is launching the eight collectors’ models to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the legendary C-type competition car
To recreate the C-Type for the 21st century, Jaguar Classic engineers consulted Jaguar’s archives and then cross-referenced scan data taken from an original C-Type. This was done in conjunction with the latest computer aided design technology ‘to create the most authentic new C-Type possible’.
This builds on experience gained by the team with previous Jaguar Classic Continuation programmes for Lightweight E-Type, XKSS and D-Type.
Jaguar said: ‘Exclusive access to original engineering drawings and company records created by the original C-Type development team – including Malcolm Sayer, competitions manager Lofty England, and engineers William Heynes, Bob Knight and Norman Dewis – ensure the authentic 1953 specifications are accurately maintained.’
However, for the first time ever, Jaguar Classic is also giving customers the opportunity to ‘visualise’ their C-Type Continuation virtually using a specially designed online configurator.
Jaguar Classic Works already had Continuation programmes for the Lightweight E-Type, XKSS and D-Type
Want one? You’ll need extremely deep pockets if you want to place an order. Jaguar has yet to reveal the level of demand for the cars so far
This allows users to compare colour and trim options from the 12 authentic exterior colours and eight interior colours available, and to apply optional racing roundels, steering wheel badge and bonnet badging. Additional options available include an FIA-approved harness retention system or rollover protection.
Jaguar said: ‘The new online configurator brings 3D computer-aided design engineering data to life, allowing prospective customers to specify their perfect C-Type virtually.’
Dan Pink, director of Jaguar Classic, said: ‘Driven by some of the most-admired racing drivers in history, the C-Type laid the foundations for Jaguar’s success in endurance racing and is synonymous with design and engineering innovation.
‘Seventy years on, Jaguar Classic is proud to be able to utilise the latest innovations in manufacturing technology – alongside traditional skills and unrivalled expertise – to reintroduce this legendary car for a new generation of enthusiasts to enjoy.’
Jaguar Classic specialises in restoring, maintaining, and selling existing classics as well as recreating authentic originals from scratch and sourcing original parts. It also specialises in E-Type Reborn restorations and building exclusive Continuation cars.
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