The C-Type was the sports car that twice won the Le Mans 24 hour race for Jaguar (1851 and 1953), and is forever associated with those two magical moments of racing glory. Based on the XK 120, it capitalized on all its elder sisters character and strengths, whilst finding plenty of ways to crave out a niche in Jaguar history for itself. Malcolm Sayers’ shapely bodywork was both beautiful and aerodynamics and, on the straight, the C-Type could manage 144 mph (230 km/h), powered by a tuned, triple carburetor, 204 bhp version of the XK twin cam engine. A space frame chassis and aluminium body work meant that C-Type was much lighter than the XK, and also had superior handling, thanks to rack and pinion steering Pan hard rod location for its transverse torsion bar sprung rear axle. Later cars had the innovation disc brakes that contributed very strongly to the C-Type victory at Le Mans in 1953. First used on aircraft, these brakes were much resistant to fade than conventional drum brakes. For those luck enough to be able to afford the $2300 asking price (about double the cost of a typical XK), Jaguar was prepared to sell cars to private customers, although its racing origins were still very much no display.
A total of 54 C-Type were built, and if you could live without much in the way of creature comforts or cockpit room, it made a sensationally quick road car that gave you a taste of your life, of what it felt like to drive a world beating race car.
