1953 Jaguar C Type Pilots: T. Rolt, D. Hamilton Team: Jaguar Cars Ltd Race: 1st GC (S 3.4 class) at Le Mans in 1953 AUTOArt - 65387 (diecast)
Published 12/04/18
Jaguar XK120C #20 (10/15/17):
In 1946, the Swallow Sidecar Company became Jaguar Cars. Two years later the new company released the XK120, the first car totally developed by Jaguar. When launched, the XK120 was the fastest production car in the world, good for over 120 mph (192 km/h). And that’s where the car’s name comes from. The XK120 participated in the 24 Hours of Le mans in in 1950, managing 12th and 15th places. Consequently, with those results Jaguar decided to produce a full-blown race car, the XK120 Competition. The XK120C had a tubular frame chassis enveloped by an aluminum body designed by Bob Knight. But the car’s heart was the Jaguar XK6 engine, an inline-6 with 3441 cm³. With DOHC and hemispherical combustion chambers, it produced 205 hp in race trim.
In 1951 Jaguar enrolled three XK120C at Le Mans and car #20 finished in 1st place. For the next year the car received modifications, and the official name of Jaguar C Type. Also, to face the new Mercedes 300 SL, aerodynamics needed improvement. However, that demanded changes to the cooling system, which proved to be costly – all three cars had to abandon. In 1953 the C Type was back at La Sarthe, but with the gremlins ironed out. Jaguar had three cars in the race, and they finished first, second and fourth. Car #18, after a prolonged battle with Ferrari and a smashed windscreen by a bird (!!), finished in 1st place. There’s a very interesting film (9’25”) about the car and Duncan Hamilton to be seen here.
This model is important to me in a peculiar way. Not counting that it’s a winner, I had one in my 1:18 days, a gift from my dear wife. From AUTOArt, it was my first “nice” Le Mans car. Most importantly, it was also the first model that she gave me as a gift. So obviously I needed one in 1:43, and of course, from AUTOArt. And just as was its bigger sibling, without a doubt it’s a smashing model.
Though I think Ixo’s XK120C is terrific, this model is easily a head above in terms of detail. Ixo also offers the ‘53 winner, and I’m sure it’s pretty good too, but AUTOArt is the best one.