About Jaguar C-Type

The Jaguar C-Type is a racing sports car built by Jaguar and sold from 1951 to 1953. The "C" stands for "competition". The C-Type was successful in racing, most notably at the Le Mans 24 hours race, which it won twice in 1951 and 1953. The car combined the running gear of the contemporary, road-proven XK120, with a lightweight tubular frame and an aerodynamic aluminium body. The C-Type version was originally tuned to around 205 bhp (153 kW) from road-going XK120’s 3.4-litre twin-cam, straight-6 engine. The early C-Types were fitted with SU carburettors and drum brakes. Later C-Types, produced from mid 1953, were more powerful, using triple twin-choke Weber carburettors and high-lift camshafts. They were also lighter, and braking performance was improved by using disc brakes on all four wheels. According to the Jaguar Heritage Registry, the cars were produced between May 1952, starting with XKC001, and ending in August 1953 with XK054. The original alloy body was marked with the prefix K. A total of 53 C-Types were built, 43 of which were sold to private owners, mainly in the US.

Jaguar C-Type Overview

The Jaguar C-Type (originally known as the XK120-C, where "C" stands for "Competition") is a British sports racing car produced by Jaguar Cars between 1951 and 1953. It was specifically designed for racing and is best known for its success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it achieved remarkable victories in 1951 and 1953.

Jaguar C-Type Technical Specification

1951 – XK120 C

Engine: 3442 cc

Cylinders: 6

Bore and Stroke: 83×106 mm

Carburetors: Two S.U.

Compression Ratio: 9:1

Power Output: 205 hp

1952 – Aerodynamic

Engine: 3442 cc

Cylinders: 6

Bore and Stroke: 83×106 mm

Carburetors: Two S.U. H8

Compression Ratio: 8.5:1

Power Output: 210 hp

1953 – Lightweight

Engine: 3442 cc

Cylinders: 6

Bore and Stroke: 83×106 mm

Carburetors: Three DCO3 40mm Weber

Power Output: 220 hp

 

Jaguar C-Type Models

Jaguar XK120 C
First racing version, later becomes famous C-Type

Jaguar C-Type Aerodynamic
Designed for Le Mans 1952

Jaguar C-Type Lightweight
Designed for Le Mans 1952

Jaguar C-Type also called

Jaguar XK120-C
Jaguar XK120 C

Jaguar C-Type Photogallery