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, Connecticut, USA 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:

Sold €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.

2025-01-11 14:25:01 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/jaguar/c-type/xk-120-c-c-type/1952/392088

Seller's description:

Fiskens, London

1952 Jaguar C-Type ex-Ecurie Ecosse, Ian Stewart

- The first Jaguar C-Type for Ecurie Ecosse and Ian Stewart

- Victorious debut at 1952 Jersey International Road Race

- Two successful period race seasons with Ecurie Ecosse

- Regular entrant at Goodwood Revival and more, prepared by CKL Developments

- Retains original engine and accompanying race engine

First delivered to Ian Stewart, this was the first Jaguar C-Type for Ecurie Ecosse (Scotland’s world-beating privateer racing team) driven from the factory to the first of many victories at the Jersey International Road Race of 1952.

A true gentleman of the sport, Ian Stewart was one of the original three Ecurie Ecosse owner-drivers of 1951, with his XK120 being the first to carry the team’s attractive metallic blue. Born in Edinburgh to a family with interests in farming and the licenced trade, his relaxed driving style was extremely quick, and he twice raced for the Jaguar works at Le Mans, in 1952 and 1953, partnered with Peter Whitehead.

With his XK120 successes gaining the attention of Jaguar’s Lofty England (“a very polished driver and the most promising one on Scottish circuits”), Stewart was offered one of the first three customer C-Types to leave the factory. Not seeing how to pay, the offer was a “terrible dilemma” in Stewart’s account, but with persuasion from Ecosse patron David Murray the XK was sold and the balance borrowed from Northwest Securities. Stewart was just 22 years old, recalling in later years that when his father found out he “went through the roof,” marching down to David Murray’s office and forcing him to buy the C-Type. With that fiscal contrivance, XKC 006 was dispatched on 4 July 1952 and registered JWS 353, becoming the first of the famous Jaguar C-Types of Ecurie Ecosse.

Mere days before its first race, Stewart had collected the new C-Type from the factory, painted racing green, completing the running-in on the Jersey backroads. In Stewart’s words:

“I set off from the works with some trepidation. As I was driving off Lofty England said ‘See you win.’ I was filled with foreboding and determination, his words ringing in my ears, but 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. I will never forget the noise – a combination of the deep exhaust note, and a peculiar ‘zinging’ resonance in the bodywork you don’t hear in other cars. I reached the ferry in a mood of complete euphoria…”

On its racing debut in the Jersey Road Race, Stewart scored a roaring victory, seeing off competition including George Abecassis and Reg Parnell each aboard a new Aston Martin DB3, with teammates Sir James Scott Douglas and Bill Dobson close behind in their XK120s.

A very successful 1952 followed for Stewart and XKC 006, including 1st places at Charterhall, Crimond, Turnberry, in the Wakefield Trophy at the Curragh, Charterhall, Goodwood, and Castle Combe, where Stewart defeated Stirling Moss in another C-Type as well as Roy Salvadori in an Aston. Before the Goodwood race Stewart’s C-Type was repainted in the team’s now famous Flag Metallic Blue, in its early and deepest shade.

For 1953 XKC 006 continued her successes with Ecurie Ecosse and Stewart, also appearing with “Jock” Lawrence from Cullen, and Ninian Sanderson, a motor trader from Glasgow, and with Ron Flockhart winner of the 1956 Le Mans 24H. Highlights for 1953 included wins at Charterhall, Ibsley and in three races at Snetterton. She appeared with Sanderson in the Easter Handicap at Goodwood placing sixth, and again at Charterhall in August.

With Ecurie Ecosse acquiring the ex-works C-Types, JWS 353 was advertised for sale in November 1953. Sadly, Ian Stewart’s very promising career was cut short after an injury in Argentina drew an ultimatum from his father – racing or farming. Hanging up his helmet, his exceptional record established a strong claim to be the best Ecurie Ecosse driver until Jackie Stewart. Later in life while managing the family businesses, he kept fast cars, and became northern agent for Maranello Concessionaires.

XKC 006 was acquired by Hans Davids of the Netherlands, a well-known motorcycle racer before the war who became Dutch national champion. Davids continued her period competition history for the 1954 season including a win at Spa (from which a splendid photo survives of the C-Type covered in silverware and garlands), with other appearances at Silverstone, Zandvoort, Oulton Park and more.

By March 1955 this C-Type returned to Britain, with Brian Corser acquiring her for sprinting events, then a further British ownership appearing in mostly hill-climbing events. An American sojourn followed from 1960, with David Bevier of New York, then Robert Allen, who apparently used her on weekends and for occasional drives to work.

She returned to Britain in 1973 via Dan Margulies, joining well-known collector Bill Lake, who commissioned a sympathetic but thorough restoration by Lynx around 1975, the first overseen by renowned expert Chris Keith-Lucas. Remembered as favourably original and complete, works included a return from green to Flag Metallic Blue, with the cellulose paint commissioned from original manufacturers Ault & Wyborg of Glasgow – with the precise shade oft-debated, XKC 006 is most likely to be right.

Remaining in family ownership for over three decades and later passing to Bill Lake’s son, she was eventually sold via a major auction house in the mid 2000s, essentially unchanged and unspoiled. Later with American industrialist and financier Bill Binnie, she was race prepared and gained a second engine also offered today.

Acquired through Fiskens in 2010, XKC 006 joined one of the most prominent and outstanding collections of competition Jaguars, and has again been seen competing at Goodwood and other events, seemingly “remembering her way round” the circuit she first raced in the early 50s. Wearing her two identifying “corporal” stripes across the nose, and cared for by experts CKL Developments, she remains in outstanding order, presenting with an utterly seductive level of attractive patination.

Presented as part of our Ecurie Ecosse collection, and with a fresh report by CKL’s Chris Keith-Lucas, this highly important Ecurie Ecosse C-Type would be a prize for any of the world’s greatest collections. Sure to draw admiring crowds at any of the best events, she is eminently suited for racing at Goodwood and other circuits.