Lot 114 of Bonhams Monaco Sale was this gorgeous Le Mans and Spa 24 competitive 1953 Jaguar XK120C – otherwise known as the Jaguar C-Type. This car saw 9th place at Le Mans 1953 alongside its fellow Jaguar Works C-Types that clinched fourth, second and first positions. It’s a piece of the picture of one of the most successful moments in Jaguars motorsport history.
MAY 18th 2016
Moss's Historic C‑Type Sells For £5,000,000+
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The car has been in the family of post war racing photographer Guy Griffiths for 53 years since he purchased it in 1963 for just £635. It was the first of a slew of Jaguars that came to feature in the famous Chipping Campden Car Collection. Prior to his acquisition and post Le Mans, ’XKC 011’ was a drivetrain and suspension development mule. In 1954 Dunlop purchased it for tyre testing purposes before passing through the hands of Mike Salmon, Gordon Lee and Robin Sturgess who all raced the car with great success.
The car is known now to have suffered somewhat of an identity crisis, with body work displaying ‘XKC 047’ nomenclature not matching the chassis ‘XKC 011’. 047 and 011 have crossed paths in their early lives, with Jaguar re-stamping this, what is in fact 047, 011, in 1954.
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Speaking of the car he raced Sir Stirling Moss said: “I always really rated the C-Type — for me it was a far better car than the ‘D’.
In the end this C-Type met its new owner at the Bonhams Monaco sale after a £5,661,967 bid. An astonishing price for what is a stunning machine.
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