1952 Jaugar C-Type
- 1952 Jaguar C-Type, Chassis XKC 024, one of 53 produced
- Eligible for Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic, Monaco Historic, and Goodwood Festival Revival
- Finished in factory-correct British Racing Green
- Fully documented ownership history from new spanning two continents
- Period competition history including Phil Hill at the wheel, April 1953 Lone Star 200
- 1st Overall, Torrey Pines six-hour endurance race, October 1955
- Original numbers-matching engine block accompanies the sale as a display unit
The Cultivated Collector is proud to present Chassis XKC 024, a 1952 Jaguar C-Type finished in its factory-correct British Racing Green. One of just 53 genuine C-Types ever constructed, XKC 024 carries a rich and fully documented ownership history from new, period competition provenance of the highest order, and a full restoration completed by marque experts in the United Kingdom. A Le Mans-winning racing car offered to the public in numbers so small as to border on mythological, XKC 024 represents one of the most significant and consequential collector car opportunities The Cultivated Collector has had the privilege of presenting.
The Jaguar C-Type's origins trace directly to the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans, where several privateer XK 120 entries demonstrated a competitiveness that caught the attention of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons and engineer Bill Heynes. Convinced that a lighter, more aerodynamic body on modified XK 120 mechanicals could win the race outright, development commenced immediately. The resulting car featured one of the first lightweight tubular space frames ever employed in sports car construction, a revised 3.4-liter XK inline-six producing 200 horsepower courtesy of a new cylinder head, high-lift camshafts, and racing pistons, and exquisite aluminum coachwork penned by Jaguar stylist Malcolm Sayer whose fluid conjunction of curves gave the C-Type one of the most achingly beautiful silhouettes in motorsport history. The first three cars were hand-built in just six weeks. Their purpose was singular: win Le Mans. They did, twice, in 1951 and 1953. Customer demand that followed was considerable, and 53 examples were ultimately produced for private sale.
XKC 024 completed assembly on 3 October 1952 and, before being dispatched to the United States, was subjected to a 90-mile road test through the hills of Lindley, United Kingdom by revered Jaguar factory test driver Norman Dewis, whose extraordinarily detailed report accompanies the sale. Delivered through pivotal Jaguar dealer Charles Hornburg of Los Angeles to its first owner, Alex Thompson of Denver, Colorado, XKC 024 wasted no time distinguishing itself in competition. On 12 April 1953, the legendary driver Phil Hill piloted the car to a reportedly spectacular 2nd overall finish in the Lone Star 200 at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas. Thompson himself raced it later that same day. In October 1955, under the stewardship of Pearce "Pete" Woods, XKC 024 with a striking new blue/white livery, claimed 1st overall in the grueling six-hour endurance race at Torrey Pines, Woods completing the entirety of the event without a relief driver. Period photographs documenting both achievements accompany the sale.
Following its active racing career, XKC 024 passed through a series of documented caretakers spanning two continents, including a period in the UK under Peter Agg of Surrey and use in the Mille Miglia Storica by Robert Reed in the mid-1980s. In late 1988, the car received a full restoration at the hands of John Pearson of Forge Garage and RS Panels, two of the most highly regarded marque specialists in the UK at the time. The car has resided with its current caretaker since the mid-1990s, during which time it has participated regularly in C-Type rallies, concours displays, and vintage events including the Colorado Grand, and has even seen use as a daily driver. It is worth noting that while the engine presently fitted is stamped to match the factory block, it is not the original unit. The car's original numbers-matching block, sourced by the current caretaker from a prior owner, accompanies the sale built up as an impressive display engine complete with an original C-Type cylinder head, cam covers, and a correct pair of sand-cast SU carburetors.
“I was fortunate to grow up in a hugely respected Jaguar family. My father, Martin Morris, was Jaguar Driver of The Year in 1978 and we owned both a Works D-Type and C-Type for many decades. My personal seat time included racing the C-Type, rallies in the D-Type and in my long career with historic racing cars I have driven several different C-Types. Recently this Jaguar arrived in CT at the premises of Matthew Ivanhoe and I had the opportunity of driving XKC 024 and was immensely impressed with its power, beautiful light handling, gearbox and brakes; clearly an example that is well dialed in and ready for events.” - Miles Morris, Historic Car Consultant
With documented provenance from new, period competition history including time in the hands of Phil Hill, a thorough older restoration by respected marque experts, and continuous participation in the living C-Type community, XKC 024 is among the most complete and compelling examples of the breed. These cars are highly eligible for all types of events that includes, the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic, Monaco Historic, and Goodwood Festival Revival. For the discerning collector who understands that genuine racing history, documented provenance, and irreplaceable significance rarely arrive together in a single car, XKC 024 is as close to the absolute pinnacle as the collector car world offers.
