GRR

Ecurie Ecosse is building new Jaguar C-types

14th January 2021
Ethan Jupp

The C-type is one of those early racing cars that helped comprise the foundation of the Jaguar sportscar mythos. Ecurie Ecosse played a big part, preparing and running C-types in period to great success. The storied team is now, after over 60 years, building seven new Jaguar C-types, as sister cars to the seven Ecurie Ecosse racers that it found so much success with in the mid-1950s.

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Like many latter-day classic car builds, these new C-types, while faithful to the originals in the ways that matter will be enhanced to a certain degree. Importantly, the timeless aerodynamic shape of the C-type will be preserved. If you don’t recognise the car at a distance by its Ecurie Ecosse blue hue, you’ll know it from the hand-airbrushed crests on the flanks.

Underneath, the chassis is laser-cut to be wider and stiffer. The long-serving Jaguar XK engine will get some upgrades too, pushing 4.2-litres in this application and, with the help of fuel injection, will produce over 300PS (221kW). 

Handling-wise, the suspension and disc brakes have also been uprated. Of course, the disc brakes themselves aren’t a modern addition, as they famously debuted on the C-type in period. The alloy seats are hand-shaped and hand-upholstered in blue leather by Crest. Also on the inside are Tag Heuer ‘Master Time’ stopwatches, mounted on the dash.

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“The seven priceless chassis raced in-period still exist today, coveted by their lucky owners, occasionally seeing the light of day for race or concours events,” said Alasdair McCaig, current Ecurie Ecosse patron.

“We are paying homage to these cars by creating a numbered sister car to each one. Meticulous in their detail, like their forebears, hand-built in Coventry and tuned by Ecurie Ecosse technicians. How better to celebrate the historic success of the Ecurie Ecosse C-types than to manufacture a batch of cars in their honour?"

There’s no word on price, or indeed if any are actually available. We wonder if the owners of the originals have first dibs... Either way, the first build is complete and will be on display at the Henley-on-Thames Hofmann’s dealership.

  • Jaguar

  • C-Type

  • Ecurie Ecosse

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