Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 36
1956 Jaguar C-Type Replica by Proteus Chassis no. CC 2174 Engine no. LB 2214-9
Sold for US$173,600 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 36
From the Estate of James Messenger
1956 Jaguar C-Type Replica by Proteus
1956 Jaguar C-Type Replica by Proteus
Audrain Concours Auction|29 September 2023, 16:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1956 Jaguar C-Type Replica by Proteus
Chassis no. CC 2174
Engine no. LB 2214-9
Chassis no. CC 2174
Engine no. LB 2214-9
3,781cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Three Twin-Choke Weber Carburetors
160bhp at 5,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
Independent Front Suspension and Live Rear Axle with Salisbury Differential4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*Striking "tool room" copy of the iconic C-Type
*Highly desirable aluminum alloy coachwork
*Crafted in England by Proteus Sports & Racing Cars
*Regarded as the finest in C-Type Replicas
THE JAGUAR C-TYPE
During the bustling post-war sports car boom, the Jaguar XK120 brought race-bred technology to the masses. With twin-cam engines, powerful brakes, and balanced handling, Jaguar cars quickly became the darling of the club racing scene. But Sir William Lyons set his sights much higher on the greatest prize in motorsport – the Le Mans 24 Hour Race.
Winning the world's toughest motor race required an extraordinary car, and Jaguar delivered that in the form of the XK120C – best known as the C-Type. Based loosely on the XK120, the C-Type used a highly tuned version of the production 'XK' twin-cam inline-six set in a lightweight tubular chassis. Initially on drum brakes, those were quickly binned in favor of Dunlop's advanced new four-wheel disc brake system, developed for aircraft and proving to be a game-changer in racing. Jaguar's chief designer and aerodynamicist, Malcolm Sayer, penned a svelte alloy skin to clothe the car, widely considered one of the prettiest of the era. The C-Type was an immediate success, winning Le Mans on its first attempt in 1951 and punctuating that with a second win in 1953.
Jaguar built just 52 C-Types, and they rank among the most prized collector cars of all time, but determined enthusiasts have created a market for exacting recreations using existing Jaguar mechanicals, and the most widely respected of those firms is Proteus Sports & Racing Cars of Oxfordshire.
THE CAR OFFERED
Finished in the archetypal C-Type colors of British Racing Green over Suede Green seats, this Proteus C-Type is an outstanding example with the desirable hand-formed aluminum alloy body. Proteus uses Jaguar running gear and suspension components to maintain authenticity, and for this car, a Mk II 3.8 Saloon served as a donor. For Proteus, authenticity is paramount, and the carefully shaped body mates to a custom-made chassis that mimics the original. Thoughtful details make it difficult to tell it apart from the genuine article. From the Perspex-covered headlights to the side-mounted exhaust and Brooklands aero screens, the look is pure C-Type.
Tilting the clamshell bonnet forward reveals a tuned 3.8-liter "XK" inline-six. The spec of each Proteus is up to the individual owner's wishes, and this car was specified with a rare original C-Type intake manifold with triple side-draught Weber DCOE carburetors in a fabricated airbox fed by the bonnet scoop. A Jaguar-sourced 4-speed manual gearbox backs the engine.
Finished to a high standard typical of Proteus cars, this gorgeous and highly evocative C-Type replica appears very well maintained while displaying minimal signs of use. The build process is documented with an extensive photo album, beginning with the donor Mk II. With robust, easily serviced running gear, it invites regular enjoyment for weekend adventures or driving events.
Sitting low in the open cockpit, hugged by form-fitting bucket seats and savoring the growl of the twin-cam inline-six, this wonderful Proteus C-Type transports you back to the heady, visceral days of sports car racing in the early 1950s.
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