One to Buy: ex-Pete Woods Torrey Pines 6 Hours-winning 1952 Jaguar C-type
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Following a series of impressive results with the XK120 during 1949 and ‘50, Jaguar elected to produce a more extreme iteration conceived purely for competition success.
The resultant XK120-C (better known as the C-type) was Jaguar’s first purpose-built racing car. It used uprated running gear from the standard XK120 and a new lightweight chassis draped with a pared down aluminium body designed to efficiently cut through the air.
Following a debut victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1951 (for Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead), C-types driven by Stirling Moss went on to win all three of the car’s other outings that season.
Myriad top flight victories followed over the next few seasons, the most famous of which was a second win at the Le Mans 24 Hours for Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton in 1953.
Jaguar built 53 examples of the C-type between 1951 and ‘53, the majority of which were sold to privateers who went on to successfully campaign their cars in all manner of motor sport disciplines.
One of these 53, chassis XKC 024, will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction on August 18th.
Dispatched to the USA on November 24th 1952, chassis 024 was delivered to its first owner, Alex Thompson of Denver, via Jaguar dealer Charles Hornburg of Los Angeles. Both Thompson and Phil Hill successfully raced the car, but after a few months it was sold to Jaguar dealer James Harrison of Colorado Springs.
Unfortunately, during a meet at March Air Force Base during November 1953, Harrison crashed 024 which necessitated installation of a new chassis, central body section and hood. Following completion, 024 passed to Bob Downey and Pete Woods, the latter of whom went on to single-handedly win the 1955 Torrey Pines 6 Hours.
Today chassis 024 is offered in superb condition throughout following a restoration by marque experts during the late 1980s.
