British marque Jaguar dominated the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, with its C-type taking home first and second place (as well as fourth and ninth). The winning driver pair of Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton covered over 2500 miles (4023km) at an average speed of 105.85mph (170km/h), breaking the previous record and becoming the first winners to take the title with an average speed of over 100mph (160km/h).
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Last year, Jaguar Classic released a limited run of C-type Continuations, paying tribute to the automaker’s motorsport heritage and bringing the iconic silhouette back into contemporary consciousness. With 2023 marking the 70th anniversary of Jaguar’s historic win, the marque has announced the release of two exclusive C-type Continuations, dubbed the ‘70-Edition’.
Each of the two C-type Continuation 70 Edition vehicles has been decked in a striking colour and trim, with handcrafted silver enamelled badging, ‘70-Edition’ stitching and embroidery, and painted roundels with the racing number 70. The first 70-Edition is finished in a one-off colour of Verbier Silver paired with a Cranberry Red leather interior; inspired by the C-type’s platinum anniversary. The second iteration is a tribute to the record-breaking 1953 car driven by Rolt and Hamilton, a C-type XKC051, and finished in the Works Team colours of British Racing Green with a Suede Green leather interior.
The pair of 70-Editions also come with bespoke key housing and a dashboard plaque — the latter of which was crafted from a 1953 C-type fuel tank — from partner jeweller Deakin & Francis, a heritage British institution dating back to 1986.
“Each C-type Continuation is a rare and special vehicle to grace any collection, but we are delighted to reveal these two exquisite editions to commemorate a landmark year for Jaguar and motorsport,” said Matthew Bailey, senior manager for strategy and business development at Jaguar Land Rover Classic. “In 1953, the introduction of the disc brake combined with the C-type’s clever design and engineering meant that the vehicle was dominant at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The C-type is a historically significant car with Jaguar pioneering disc-brake technology seventy years ago, and we often take for granted the fact that the disc-brake remains the industry standard.”
Each C-type Continuation model, including the 70-Edition cars, are handcrafted over 3000 hours at Jaguar Classic Works in Coventry and built to the specification of the 1953 Works C-types, aided by the use of advanced CAD modelling. Beneath the hood sits a 3.4-litre straight-sex engine, each of which takes nine months to construct, partially due to the meticulously refurbished triple Weber 40DCO3 carburettors, which produce 220bhp.
Both of the C-type Continuation 70 Edition vehicles clock in at a cool £1.5 million ($2,671,500AUD, with Jaguar Classic also currently taking enquires for new builds.
Words by John Deckard
