Description
Jaguar built only 54 C-Types and it is worth noting that the first three Formula 1 World Champions – Guiseppe Farina, Alberto Ascari and Juan-Manuel Fangio – all bought them as road cars. It is not hard to understand why: at the time of its introduction the C-Type represented the state-of-the-art in racing car engineering and thus was one of the most advanced road vehicles in the world.
Those multiple Le Mans wins in the 1950s, as well as numerous victories in the other great classic endurance events, coupled with superlative driving qualities that made it so attractive to three of the greatest drivers in history, have ensured a continuing healthy demand for replicas of Jaguar’s rare and exotic sports-racer. An acknowledged master in this highly specialised field is Proteus Sports & Racing Cars Ltd of Silchester, Berkshire, which since its foundation in 1985 by Jim Marland has established an unrivalled reputation for quality reproductions of classic sports cars.
The car we have here today is believed to be an early model dated to the late 1980’s during Jim Marlands’ directorship of Proteus. Originally delivered new to Germany the C-type has more recently been imported into the UK in 2012 by the present owner who has used the car for many long distance tours including Monaco, Pau, Le Mans, Goodwood and Silverstone. Recent work includes an overdrive overhaul, new springs, shock absorbers, wheels and tyres. There are several spare parts offered in the sale including a new gas flowed cylinder head. Built around an aluminium tub with aluminium doors and GRP bonnet, this lovely example on offer presented in the classic Jaguar colour of British Racing Green over green leather interior has an amazing patina that looks like it has just finished several fast laps of LeMans, few examples exude character like this. Sold with a current UK V5C registration document, the original German registration and importation papers and a valid MOT test certificate.
