News & Features May 26, 2006, 12:48PM EST

1952 Jaguar C-type Ecurie Ecosse

The needle of the rev counter can be wound to the red zone, and each gear takes the car into a new dimension

by Gary Anderson

Designed and built with the sole intention of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the renowned Jaguar C-type was a development of the already successful XK 120.

Though the race car was initially designated XK 120C, in truth little was shared between the two models apart from the drivetrain, and this was uprated with larger exhaust valves, high-lift cams, and larger carburetors.

The race car was designed with rack-and-pinion steering, revised suspension, and a lightweight

tubular chassis and bodywork construction. Clothed in the voluptuous C-type curves, the new car's potency was promptly proven when, just six weeks after its completion, Peter Whitehead and Peter Walker won the 1951 Le Mans race an immense 67 miles ahead of their competition.

Six C-types were retained by the works, but the model was also available for sale at some £1,500 plus purchase tax (nearly 50% more than the 120) thus providing a natural progression for privateers already impressed with the XK 120.

One such person was Ecurie Ecosse team owner David Murray, who elected to upgrade to C-types following his successful first season of racing in 1951, and began this process with the purchase, through Ecosse driver Ian Stewart, of XKC 006.

Stewart won his first outing—the Jersey Road Race—and recorded the fastest lap. During that first season, he totalled 14 wins, including his only win over Stirling Moss. For 1953, XKC 006 was painted Flag Metallic Blue to match the other Ecurie Ecosse cars, and racked up another five wins.

The car was then sold to Dutch driver Hans Davids for 1954, in whose hands it notched up several more good results, and to Bryan Corser, who raced it in 1955 and 1956. So far as we understand, it then passed to Mr. Anthony Barrett-Greene of Staffordshire and to American Mr. Robert Allen. At some point a rear Panhard bar was installed.

The car returned to British soil when acquired by the present family owners in 1974. At that time, a sympathetic restoration was undertaken by Lynx Engineering's owner, Chris Keith-Lucas.

Work included repaint in the original Eurie Ecosse livery, fitting of a longer-legged back axle, uprating the drum brakes to the discs used on the 1952 C-types, and substituting a "more sporting" D-type cylinder head. At the time Keith-Lucas noted the absence of a car number plate—the distinguishing number is also stamped on the chassis—but he wasn't certain this car ever had one.

The car has belonged to the current owners for some 30 years and was enthusiastically campaigned until the mid-1990s. It has been returned to a roadworthy condition for this sale by Mr. Keith-Lucas.

The car is eligible for a variety of events, including the Mille Miglia and the Goodwood Revival, and the Le Mans Classic, in which the car is already entered. Unseen for nine years, this fabulously curvaceous and thrilling car will be welcomed wherever it goes.

The SCM Analysis

XKC 006 was sold by Christie's at its Retromobile auction in Paris on February 11, 2006, for $1,649,638.

Keith-Lucas is respected by Jaguar specialists, who accept his opinion that XKC 006 is a substantially original C-type. With the distinction of being one of the first three C-types sold by Jaguar to private competitors, its provenance as one of the 50 originally built is unchallenged in the Jaguar community. Further establishing its credibility, its race record has extended from the Jersey win in 1952 to its most recent races in the 1990s.

Taking that into account, it's a bit surprising that this car did not sell when originally offered for sale at Christie's in June 2005, though achieving a reported high bid of $1.9 million. Perhaps the owner should have been happy with that result.

Arizona Jaguar expert and C-type registrar Terry Larson thinks XKC 006 could be a bargain at this price and wouldn't have been surprised to see nearer $2 million. "It's certainly a good car," he says.