-      Superb replica of the legendary C-Type

-      Equipped with the powerful 3.8-litre engine

-      Partially Aluminium bodywork

The two victories the Jaguar C-Type (or XK-120C) achieved at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951 and 1953 made it one of the greatest racing cars of all time. Only 54 cars were built and the greatest drivers in the history of racing - Giuseppe Farina, Alberto Ascari and Juan-Manuel Fangio - owned one. It was indeed the most advanced car of its day in terms of its engineering and performance.

Its many successes made it a legend and, like all legends, some companies produced replicas of it. Among them, the English firms Lynx and Proteus. Its wins at Le Mans in the 1950s, as well as numerous victories in the other great classic endurance races, combined with the superb driving characteristics which made it so appealing to three of the greatest racing drivers of all time, have ensured a steady and healthy demand for replicas of Jaguar’s rare and exotic racing car. Among the best, along with Lynx, is Proteus Sports & Racing Cars Ltd, originally based at Silchester in Berkshire, an acknowledged master in this highly specialised field. Since it was established in 1985, Proteus has built up an unrivalled reputation for building some of the most beautiful recreations of the Jaguar C-Type and has ended up devoting itself entirely to the production of this model.

Built using the identity of a Mark II 3.4, chassis no. 150928DN, Proteus (according to the car’s current owner) produced a superb aluminium-bodied replica for the central box while the front bonnet and rear section are made of fibreglass, installing a 3.8-litre six-cylinder Jaguar engine fed by three twin-choke Weber 45 carburettors. Certainly, when you see the tubular chassis and the build quality, you can only conclude that it is a car produced by Proteus. The result is superb and, above all, faithful to the legendary original C-Type. It is a magnificent replica with a tubular chassis that Proteus had the knack of producing, and its handling on the road is amazing. With its powerful engine and lightweight chassis and bodywork, this is a hot-blooded replica, built to the highest standard. When the current owner bought the car in 2007, he had it completely overhauled by the Atelier des Coteaux, with a bill (supplied) for nearly 42,000 €. The cooling system was completely overhauled, so too the running gear and brakes; electronic ignition was fitted, along with an oil cooler. The two bucket seats were restored and retrimmed in green leather, perfectly matching the British Racing Green bodywork. Since 2007, the car has been maintained by the current owner’s personal mechanic. We had the opportunity to test the car and found it balanced and powerful, with excellent suspension, in short, all the terms you might use to describe the C-Types which were champions on track at the start of the 1950s, but 15 times cheaper than a real one!

Please note that contrary to what is written on the paper catalogue, that the bodywork, the central box and the door of this C-type are made of aluminium.

The front bonnet and rear section are made of fibreglass.

Photos © Alexis Ruben