Jaguar C-type Continuation 70 Edition revealed

Jaguar fans might want to get their accountants on the phone because the legendary British marque has just revealed a pair of Jaguar C-type Continuation ‘70-Edition’ models priced at £1.5million ($A2.65m) apiece plus taxes.

Designed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the C-type’s dominance at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 70 Edition cars have been hand-built over more than 3000 hours and mirror the mechanical specifications of the fabled racers.

Lurking underneath that aluminium body is a 3.4-litre straight-six petrol engine fitted with refurbished triple Weber 40DCO3 carburettors and developing 164kW – the same output as the 220hp originals.

The differences between the two versions largely comes down to the exterior and interior colour combinations, the first of which was inspired by the C-type’s platinum anniversary and blends a new one-off ‘Verbier Silver’ body with a ‘Cranberry Red’ leather interior.

The other pays homage to Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton’s 1953 Le Mans-winning XKC051 racer with its ‘British Racing Green’ body and ‘Suede Green’ interior.

Both 70 Editions proudly wear the number 70 on their doors, bonnet and boot lid in classic racing style within white roundels, along with handcrafted silver enamelled badging and ‘70 Edition’ stitching and embroidery.

Each example comes with a bespoke key housing and dashboard plaque crafted by Deakin & Francis from the fuel tank of an original 1953 C-type.

“Each C-type Continuation is a rare and special vehicle to grace any collection, but we are delighted to reveal these two exquisite editions to commemorate a landmark year for Jaguar and motorsport,” said Jaguar Land Rover Classic strategy and business development senior manager, Matthew Bailey.

“In 1953, the introduction of the disc brake, combined with C-type’s clever design and engineering, meant that the vehicle was dominant at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The C-type is a historically significant car, with Jaguar pioneering disc brake technology 70 years ago, and we often take for granted the fact that the disc brake remains the industry standard.”

The C-type’s success at the 1953 Le Mans 24 Hours was emphatic, with all four of the entered cars finishing within the top 10 – taking first, second, fourth and ninth place.

Race winners Rolt and Hamilton also broke the average lap speed record for the famous endurance race, covering more than 4000km at an average of 170km/h.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au