1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight
One of only three C-Types produced in
1953, this particular example finished 4th overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
and now holds the venerable title of most expensive Jaguar ever sold at
auction. A stunning Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight from 1953 has been sold for
US$ 13.2 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction. Pre-auction estimates
suggested that classic race car would sell for between US$ 9 million and US$ 11
million but it smashed even those high estimates.
The C-Type is very close relative of the
Jaguar XK120 roadster, modified for competition. Three special examples of the
C-Type were built by Jaguar specifically for the 1953 Le Mans race, featuring a
host of weight-saving components versus the standard C-Type, thus the “Works
Lightweight” designation (a “works” team is one that is sponsored and supported
by a manufacturer).
This particular example is chassis XKC 052 and was just
the second of three lightweight Works units created with the 1953 Le Mans
endurance race in mind. Differentiating these three from other Jaguar C-Type
models include the thin-gauge aluminium bodywork, more powerful Weber
carburettors, a triple-plate clutch, fully synchronised gearbox and a rubber
aircraft fuel balder. Amazingly, these three C-Type Lightweights were the first
ever entrants to Le Mans to feature disc brakes.
