Jaguar C-Type - "The Champion"

Designed as a racing evolution of the XK120, Jaguar's C-Type is one of the most beautiful racing machines ever built. The car performed as good as it looked winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its first try in 1951. Further development saw the car fitted with triple Weber carburetors and twin high-lift cam shafts in 1953 giving the inline 6 cylinder engine well over 200 HP. The car was also fitted with disc brakes - the first to have them in competition. In 1953 Duncan Hamilton & Tony Rolt won at le Mans with an average speed of 105.85 MPH - the first car to average over 100 MPH at le mans. Early in the race Hamilton ran into a bird which smashed half of the windscreen. The car was driven the rest of the race and to the win with half of the windscreen missing. This artwork is a portrait of the 1953 winning C-Type.