2008-10-17 02:48:41 | Lofty writes:

This car was originally sold to Ian Stewart and run under Ecurie Ecosse.

There is an article featureing this car on Business Week:

www.businessweek.com/autos/content/may2006/bw20060526_911060.htm

Excerpt:

"The SCM Analysis

XKC 006 was sold by Christie's at its Retromobile auction in Paris on February 11, 2006, for $1,649,638.

Keith-Lucas is respected by Jaguar specialists, who accept his opinion that XKC 006 is a substantially original C-type. With the distinction of being one of the first three C-types sold by Jaguar to private competitors, its provenance as one of the 50 originally built is unchallenged in the Jaguar community. Further establishing its credibility, its race record has extended from the Jersey win in 1952 to its most recent races in the 1990s.

Taking that into account, it's a bit surprising that this car did not sell when originally offered for sale at Christie's in June 2005, though achieving a reported high bid of $1.9 million. Perhaps the owner should have been happy with that result.

Arizona Jaguar expert and C-type registrar Terry Larson thinks XKC 006 could be a bargain at this price and wouldn't have been surprised to see nearer $2 million. "It's certainly a good car," he says."

2009-09-07 09:00:08 | pauls writes:

Car was on display at Lime Rock Park 9/6/09

2013-10-23 21:11:26 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction in '06
www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/jaguar-type-c-4658980-details.aspx

Auction description:
Price Realized
€1,386,250 ($1,662,548)
Estimate
€1,200,000 - €1,500,000
($1,439,176 - $1,798,970)
Sale 5304 --
Automobiles de Collection
11 February 2006
Paris / Porte de Versailles - France

The Ex-Ian Stewart, First Ecurie Ecosse, Jersey Road Race Winning
1952 JAGUAR C-TYPE TWO SEATER SPORTS RACING CAR

Registration No. JWS 353 (UK)
Chassis No. XKC 006
Engine No. E 1008-8
Flag Metallic Blue with black leather seats

Six C-Types were retained by the works but the model was also available for sale at some £1,500 plus purchase tax (nearly 50 more than the 120), thus providing a natural progression for privateers already impressed with the XK120.

Specific history of this car
One such person was Ecurie Ecosse team owner, David Murray, who elected to upgrade to C-Types following his successful first season of racing in 1951, and began this process with the purchase, through Ecosse driver Ian Stewart, of XKC 006. Mr. Stewart fondly recalled his ownership of the car in recent correspondence:

'Jaguar had decided to release a limited number of C-Types for 'non-works' racing, and the first three went to Duncan Hamilton, Bill Cannell and Tommy Wisdom (for Stirling Moss), and my own car (destined for Ecurie Ecosse).

The Jersey Road Race was scheduled for July, and David Murray entered three Ecurie Ecosse cars for the event - hoping that the C-Type would be ready in time to participate alongside the XK120s. It really was 'touch and go' because the C-Type wasn't ready for collection until the Tuesday before the race, and it still had to be run in.

As a result, the car had to be driven from Coventry to the Channel, and then driven up and down every cul-de-sac on Jersey, where long open roads were in rather short supply. I collected the car at the works on Tuesday afternoon, and set off with some trepidation with the Headmaster's (Lofty England's) words ringing in my ears. All he said by way of farewell was 'see you win' and my reaction to the command was a mixture of foreboding and determination.

This was soon forgotten in the joy of the drive. A brand-new C-Type smelling of fresh paint and without a single rattle was quite something, and I will never forget the noise - a combination of the deep exhaust note and that peculiar 'zinging' resonance in the bodywork which I have never heard in other cars. The way the traffic parted in front of the beast was quite something, and I managed to get it to the boat without a scratch, and in a mood of complete euphoria. Who wouldn't in that situation!

The event itself was a big thrill. I had the advantage of loving real road circuits, where the features and obstacles were just the same as everyday driving (no speed limits back then!) and I don't recall much difficulty with the Jersey layout.

Two features demanded constant attention. One was a pavement which had to be avoided at all costs when turning onto the main street - a narrow corner, and all too easy to let the tail slide out that little bit too far. The other was a rather menacing lamp post on the crest of a rise on the main street just after a slight right hand kink. It felt as if they had put the thing beyond the edge of the pavement, and it impressed me enough to avoid it by a foot or so each time round. Otherwise the corners were wide and open, and the thrill of blasting up between the buildings in the main street was honestly quite uplifting. Real boy-racer stuff I'm afraid!

The car was very good to me for the rest of the season and throughout 1953, notching up a total of 14 wins (including a struggle with Stirling Moss - the only time I ever beat him). I couldn't really ask for more than that.'

Mr Stewart's characteristic modesty conceals a fantastic run of victories:

July 1952: Jersey Road Race - 1st, fastest lap
July 1952: Charterhall - 1st (twice)
August 1952: Crimond - 1st
August 1952: Turnberry - 1st in heat, 3rd in final
September 1952: Wakefield Trophy, the Curragh - 1st
October 1952: Castle Combe - 1st
October 1952: Charterhall - 1st, fastest lap (where Stewart beat not only Moss but also Salvadori)

For the '53 season, XKC 006 was repainted Flag Metallic Blue to match the other Ecurie cars, and continued to place highly:

April 1953: Charterhall - 1st
April 1953: Ibsley - 1st
May 1953: Charterhall - 4th (having stopped while in the lead to replace a plug lead)
May 1953: Thruxton - 2nd
May 1953: Snetterton - 1st
June 1953: Snetterton - 1st (twice)
July 1953: Leinster Trophy, Wicklow - 5th (2nd fastest finisher)
July 1953: British G.P. meeting, Silverstone - 5th
August 1953: Charterhall - 6th (driven by Ecosse driver and later Le Mans winner Ninian Sanderson)

XKC 006 was then sold to Dutch driver Hans Davids for the 1954 season, in whose hands it notched up further successes including:
May 1954: Spa - 1st
June 1954: Amiens - 2nd
August 1954: Zandvoort - 1st

Following this season, ownership passed to Englishman Bryan Corser who competed the car in a number of sprint events throughout 1955 and 1956. So far as we understand, it then passed to Mr. Anthony Barrett-Greene of Staffordshire before emigrating across the Atlantic under the ownership of Mr. Robert Allen.

It was the early 1970s before this important car returned to British soil when acquired by the present family owners in 1974. It is believed to be at some point before this "home-coming" that the rear suspension was modified with the addition of a Panhard rod.

Condition
Upon its return to the U.K in the early 1970s, a thorough but sympathetic restoration was undertaken by local marque experts Lynx Engineering. Overseen by the company owner at the time, Chris Keith-Lucas, the rebuild extended from a mechanical 'sorting' to a repaint in the original Ecosse livery ordered directly from the original suppliers. To enhance its usability and performance, a longer legged back axle ratio was chosen, the drum brakes were uprated to discs and a more sporting D-Type cylinder head was fitted. Interviewed recently, Mr Keith-Lucas commented on the nature of these improvements as being the 'done thing' in this period; he also favourably remarked upon the car's originality on its return to the U.K.

In preparation for today's sale the car was returned to Mr Keith-Lucas's workshops for a light re-commissioning and a return to road-worthy condition. During this time he was able to confirm the highly original content of XKC 006 (sentiments that have been echoed by various luminaries within the Jaguar fraternity upon their inspection of the car) from chassis to engine, gearbox and even bodywork. He did however note that today, as when it returned from the U.S., it lacks a chassis plate, but such is the originality of the components that this is not deemed to be of much consequence.

Having resided with the present owners for some 30 years and been enthusiastically campaigned until the mid-1990s, this is an extremely special and important historic racing Jaguar. It is also a model that is more usable today than ever before, enabling entry to a whole host of events from rally retrospectives such as the Mille Miglia to Historic circuit races such as at the Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic. Indeed it already has an entry for this latter event.

Unseen publicly for 9 years, this fabulously curvaceous and thrilling car will be welcomed wherever it goes; Christie's are extremely honoured to present it for sale.