Jaguar C-type

[PorscheGuy79]

I have always loved old Jaguars, specifically the roadsters. Oddly because I generally detest convertibles but there is something about British racing green that makes me think differently. I was curious if anyone knew much of anything on the Jaguar C-Type? Im not looking for one but just curious how many were made, how fast where they and how much they go for. Any info would make me a happy man.

[PorscheGuy79]

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Jags are just beautiful cars. Sometimes people dont give this fact enough credit.

Didnt Steve McQueen used to drive one of those up and down Mulholland when it connected all the way?

I was working for a Benz dealership once, delivering cars, picking up customers. Once delievered a brand new SL to a guy in the Hollywood Hills. We got to talking about cars, and he opens his garage to show me a just mint 1965 Jag E-type, he had bought the car in 1970, and been keeping it up since. This thing was just nice. Every nut and bolt looked brand new, engine was detailed. Only had something like 54,000 miles on it. That was indeed a nice Jaguar.

[Joeaksa]

They are still making them, replicas but just as fast or faster. Something about Jags that get in your blood.

Jared, my '69 XJ below was purchased brand new by my Father in 1970. Been in the family since. Am doing a "nut and bolt" restoration on it right now...

Joe A

[PorscheGuy79]

Joe, I new you would come to the rescue.

Do you have any links or information on the replicas or are those one offs?

[typ550]

Matthew,

There were 53 C-types built by the factory, as I recall, all of which have been accounted for. AFAIK, they are trading in the $1million range and up.

Proteus, Tempero, and Lynx seem to build the best reproductions. I seem to see more of the Proteus cars for sale and they are available in both alloy-bodied (preferable, of course) and fiberglass. RacingGreen in the UK has also built one C-type that I am aware of and it is currently for sale in the neighborhood of 98K pounds.

My car has a Proteus body (alloy) & chassis, but was actually built in Nick Mason's race shop (so not technically a Proteus).

Jared, I think McQueen actually had an XKSS, which is the roadgoing version of the D-type.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The XJ is nice, but the C and D types are pure sex. Some of the most beautiful cars ever made, no question.

[cegerer]

[Steve Carlton]

http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0409_mcqueen/

[Howard Agency]

There was an R&T issue that compared the D-type, RSK (or 60), and 250 Testa Rossa. My argument for the 3 best looking race cars of all time. The 'C' is nice, but the 'D' is a killer IMO, but tough to duplicate. IIRC the 'C' had a separate ladder frame and the 'D' was a unibody.

The three cars were a very close match on the local tracks. The Ferrari had the high rev guts, Jag the top end and BRAKES, and the Porsche beat the crap out of them in the turns. Fun stuff

I'm so old I had a chance to drive an RSK and ride in the other two.

[Joeaksa]

Matthew,

Glad to help!

Matt, you are correct, these old cars just about give anyone "wood" when they drive by. The sound, look and sleekness take your breath away...

JoeA

http://www.nostalgiacars.co.uk/ctype.html

http://www.racecar.co.uk/jaguarctype/

http://www.xkevocation.com/

http://www.vintagejag.com/Ctype/C-type.htm

http://www.jaguarreplicas.com/

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/profiles/1995/June/English/

[Milu]

Every e-type roadster looked like sex on wheels. I just don't think I could live with one every day.

Eagle (www.eaglegb.com) used to produce a nice updated one. They should still be in business.

[masraum]

Yep, the E is a damn sexy street car, but the C, D, and SS are amazing cars.

D-type


XKSS

The D-Type was the most scientifically engineered racing car of the '50s, a three-time Le Mans winner. In 1957, Jaguar put a windshield on it and created the street-legal XKSS (pictured, top left). It was a streamlined, 150-mph bullet, a WWII Spitfire fighter plane for your garage. Only sixteen were made. Actor Steve McQueen learned to race by driving his Von Dutch-pinstriped XKSS on Mulholland Drive, and that's about as cool as it gets.

[typ550]

What amazes me (still) is that the XKSS came about because the factory had D-types sitting around that no one wanted to buy!! A subsequent fire in the factory destroyed the tooling and prevented a full production run for the SS; otherwise there might be more running around.

A friend of mine owns an alloy-bodied Lynx XKSS; still a pretty nice car for a reproduction.

[typ550]

Here's some shots I took of C and D-types at Goodwood last fall.

[masraum]

Damn, back in the day they really knew how to make cars!

[ZLP]

There was a c type as pictured in the 1st post at the RM auction last weekend. Went for over a mil

[gaijindabe]

NY Metro PCA once shared the pits with the VSCCA at Pocono. These old boys were running these 50s era Jags. I did not get a ride, but never met a nicer group. Million$ on the track that day..

[Milu]

Some big cats from a historic hill climb:






Lucas Prince of Darkness strikes again!





Waiting for original and period correct, Lucas 3lb hammer to adjust and fine tune fuel pump.




This was an earlier run before the name of Lucas was taken in vain: