2010-03-27 18:58:04 | Lofty writes:

Simeone Museum, Philadelphia
www.simeonefoundation.org/

2022-06-18 11:21:16 | pauls writes:

Description from the Simeone Foundation Museum:

simeonemuseum.org/collection/1953-jaguar-c-type/

Chassis Number # XKC 010

This car was imported in 1952 by Midwest Jaguar dealer Art Feuerbacher. It ran in a series of smaller races but its greatest performance was in the 1953 Sebring where it came in 3rd overall driven by Sherwood Johnston who that year won the drivers’ championship. It had a brief racing history thereafter until 1959 when purchased by Ohioan Art Seyler. He rebuilt the original engine, and later raced it between 1961 and 1965 in regional SCCA events bragging he had 30 straight finishes before they forced him to retire because of a broken axle. He raced it at Mid-Ohio against Ken Miles in a Cobra, Jim Hall in a Chaparral, all with the same engine. He drove to the VSCCA race at Watkins Glen in 1975, raced, and drove back (one of his favorite practices).

In 1976 he installed an E-Type engine and preserved the original C-type engine, still in excellent condition. He continued to take part in VSCCA races. Although he made modifications, such as installation of a fuel cell, he kept all the original equipment. He finished his career in an SVRA race at Watkins Glen in 1986.

When we purchased the car from Art, it was towed down by Bill Wonder who always had a great eye for “wonderful” cars and to this day remains extraordinarily alert and active. We installed the original engine and had the original gas filled shock absorbers recommissioned and installed. They also put the gas tank back in place. Fortunately, Art had kept these things nicely preserved. We removed his roll bar. With all the bits together Ralph Buckley and Kevin Kelly did a complete restoration. Harry Tidmarsh did a beautiful job in restoring the body.

So few of these C-types had an original body I asked him to remove as little of the material as possible and to save whatever he trimmed off. For instance, the thin aluminum around the headlight shells and grille had torn through at the screw holes necessitating its replacement; similarly the rear wheel arches needed restoration. We completed this work over a long period but painstakingly so that the result was a perfect restoration. We painted it the original Jaguar silver and reupholstered in black as factory records show.

We have enjoyed her since. As is typical of Ralph Buckley restorations, it has performed flawlessly. A remarkable car, different from the D-type to drive, but charming in its own manner and one can readily reckon why it was so successful during the early 1950s.