Descripción
This is lot number 143 in the Bonhams Goodwood Revival Auction on September 7th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Aluminium bodywork
3. 4-Litre Jaguar XK120 engine block
Present ownership since 2009
Generally very good condition
The XK120C's astonishing debut victory in the 1951 Le Mans 24-Hour Race and its follow-up win in '53 established Jaguar's first purpose-built sports-racer as one of the all-time great competition automobiles. 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 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 has established an unrivalled reputation for quality reproductions of classic sports cars. This C-Type was purchased in 2009 by the current owner having been owned previously by one Christopher Beauvoisin, who is believed to have raced it. Unfortunately all other history has been lost. Our vendor describes the car as in generally very good condition, the engine in running order and the transmission and electrics working. Offered with a V5C Registration Certificate (the car's registration identity is that of a 1965 Jaguar MK II right hand drive saloon, the W engine number dictating an XK120 block), tools, and two Jaguar manuals.
