Jaguar C-type celebration with a twist - Terje's cars

It celebrates 70 years this year. In the early 50s, it won several car races, including the 24-hour race at Le Mans in 1951 and 1953. Jaguar celebrates by producing 7 new cars while another C-type is in danger of being destroyed…

Handmade and exclusive

The C-type was based on the XK-120 Roadster with a 3,4 liter twin-cam straight six. They were originally called XK-120-C for competition. The model has a tubular steel frame with an aluminum body. Thoroughbred racing car. Aerodynamic - yet stylish down to the smallest detail.

In total, only 53 examples of the C-type were produced, including those used in races. Jaguar is unlikely to make the C-type a regular car. Namely, only 7 cars will be produced - one for each of the historic racing cars. Each car will be handcrafted by the racing team Stable Scotland. In 1952, one of their drivers cashed in, Ian Stewart, a series of victories with the C-type. This will be marked in 2022 with a special event. The new cars will receive a mild upgrade. Among other things, the frame is to be built slightly wider with laser-cut parts, the engine is to be built on Jaguar's 4,2-litre, and of course the brakes are to be up-to-date. It is said that Jaguar won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953 precisely because of theirs disc brakes something that none of the competitors had at the time.

Type C can be configured online

On Jaguar websites anyone can configure their own C-type. For the vast majority of us, Jaguar's exclusive racing car will only be a dream. The price tag is currently set at 1,3 million dollars - or just over 11 million Norwegian kroner. Even if you had 11 million available, you cannot count on being among the lucky ones.

Continuation model vs. replica

The new C-type will be produced as a so-called "continuation model". They are produced from original drawings and molds, with the permission of the original manufacturer. They can carry original logos and decals. The Ford GT40 and Cobra are examples of successful continuation models. They are not worse than the originals - quite the contrary. This as a contrast to replica models. Simply put, a replica can be described as a copy that doesn't have to be for similar to the originally built cars. They must not be equipped with logos and decals in such a way that they can be mistaken for a "real" car. There are several strict judgments in the EU that have hit professional replica builders hard.

Recently, a very strict sentence was handed down in Gothenburg District Court.

The Magnusson couple ended up disabled because of their car construction. Source **gofund.me**

Downturn for Swedish replica builder

Many C-type replicas have been made. The Swedish couple Karl and Ann-Christine Magnusson have been working for over ten years on a project to build a Jaguar C-type according to original drawings. Both are Jaguar enthusiasts – or "Jaguar geeks" as Karl describes himself. Eventually they made good contact with, among other things Stuart Kilvington, sales and licensing manager at Jaguar Land Rover Heritage. He was positive about the plans - also during the course when photographs were exchanged. Karl was also invited over to England. Therefore, it came as a surprise that Jaguar Land Rover took the couple to court. On 30 December 2020, the verdict was delivered. The defendant was sentenced to pay more than SEK 5 million to JLR for costs and damage. They were also ordered to destroy the frame of their self-built C-type. It is actually the frame which is copy protected.

May endanger other replica builders

If the verdict is upheld, the married couple could end up in the dark. In addition, the severe sentence could put thousands of other replica builders at risk - regardless of brand. Many replica builders are skilled amateurs who help to keep the enthusiasm and brand identity up without making a lot of money. A fundraising campaign has therefore been set up so that the couple can appeal the verdict and take the case further.

Celebration with a twist

Magnussons claimed that they had received the necessary confirmations from Jaguar along the way, while JLR believed that their contact person did not have the authority. In the judgment, emphasis was also placed on the fact that the car was built and launched in the Swedish enthusiast community during a commercial enterprise - not as private individuals.

From a car enthusiast's point of view, it is sad to destroy a Jaguar C-type built to original drawings - a car that could have shone a light on Jaguar's racing history.