VIN: the Francisco Ibarra / Juanito Ross Jaguar C-type chassis XKC 029

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS 029

Chassis 029 started life as a Pastel Green C-type dispatched to Jaguar’s West Coast distributor, Charles Hornburg in Los Angeles, on November 24th 1952. It was subsequently sold to Francisco ‘Paco’ Ibarra of Mexico City who purchased the car specifically to enter 1953’s Carrera Panamericana road race.

Having contested the 1950 and ‘51 Carreras in a Packard, 1952 had seen Ibarra drive a Ferrari 212 Inter (chassis 0161 EL) on behalf of its owner, Santiago Ontanon. Ontanon was the founder of Industrias 1-2-3 who was sponsoring Ferrari’s works effort that year.

The ‘52 contest saw Ibarra finish 24th overall and seventh in the Sports car class alongside navigator Vicente Solar.

For 1953’s Carrera, which kicked off on November 19th, Ibarra secured backing from the Mexican government. 029 arrived for the opening leg (a 329 mile dash from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Oaxaco) wearing a new white colour scheme emblazoned with ‘Estado de Mexico’ logos.

Unfortunately, the C-type only had a brief run and proved troublesome from the off. With the plugs having become fouled during the minute-long wait on the start line, Ibarra was forced to pull over just 100 yards into the event to rectify the situation. 200 miles later, 029’s timing chain gave way and the Jaguar’s event was over.

The 1954 Carrera Panamericana saw Ibarra and 029 return for another crack, this time with a navigator (Fernando Pinal) and a new sponsor, the Mexican state of Veracruz.

Running under a Javier Velazquez entry, 029 was about to reach the mid-way point of the event when on stage four (the 267 mile stretch from Mexico City to Leon) it sprang a terminal oil leak and retired for the second year in a row.

Three-and-a-half years later, on March 16th 1958, Ibarra was killed while driving the C-type along the Veracruz City to Mexico City Highway. Accompanied by aspiring race driver Juanito Ross who had just purchased the car, Ibarra lost control while attempting an overtake between Orizaba and Cordoba. Chassis 029 overturned during the accident and Ibarra was killed instantly. Ross died of his injuries a few hours later.

In later years, the repaired C-type was sold to an American buyer. It returned to Europe in 1980.

Notable History

Pastel Green

Dispatched November 24th 1952

Supplied via Charles Hornburg, Los Angeles

Sold to Francisco Ibarra, Mexico City

Repainted white

23/11/1953 WSC Carrera Panamericana (F. Ibarra) DNF (#18)

23/11/1954 WSC Carrera Panamericana (F. Ibarra / F. Pinal) DNF (#13)

16/03/1958 sold to Juanito Ross and damaged in Ibarra’s fatal accident on the Veracruz City to Mexico City Highway

Repaired and later sold to the USA

1980 returned to Europe

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed