Insight Card : Jaguar XK 120 C No.18 Winner 24H Le Mans 1953
The Jaguar XK120-C, also known as the C-Type, bearing the number 18, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953, driven by British drivers Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton. This victory marked Jaguar’s second triumph at Le Mans, following their initial win in 1951, and was a significant milestone in motorsport history due to the car’s innovative technology and performance.
Background and Development
The Jaguar C-Type was developed specifically for racing, building on the success of the road-going XK120, which had shown promise in the 1950 Le Mans race with private entries finishing 12th and 15th. Jaguar’s founder, William Lyons, along with chief engineer William Heynes and aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer, designed the C-Type to compete at the highest level. Introduced in 1951, the C-Type featured a lightweight tubular chassis, an aerodynamic aluminum body, and a tuned version of the XK120’s 3.4-liter inline-six engine, initially producing around 205 bhp with SU carburetors.
For the 1953 race, Jaguar refined the C-Type to create what is often referred to as the "lightweight" C-Type.
Key upgrades included:
- Thinner aluminum bodywork to reduce weight by approximately 50 kg.
- Triple Weber 40 DCO3 carburetors, replacing the twin SU carburetors, boosting power to around 220 bhp.
- Disc brakes, a revolutionary technology developed with Dunlop, making Jaguar the first to win Le Mans with disc brakes. This provided superior braking performance, critical for the high-speed Circuit de la Sarthe.
- Lighter electrical components and a rubber bag fuel tank to further reduce weight.
These enhancements made the 1953 C-Type faster and more reliable, addressing issues like the cooling problems that led to retirements in 1952 due to an experimental low-drag body design.
The 1953 Le Mans Race
The 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, held on June 13–14, saw Jaguar field three factory C-Types, facing strong competition from Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, and others. The No. 18 car, driven by Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton, was one of these entries. The race was notable for its intense competition and Jaguar’s dominance, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 4th overall.
Drivers:
Tony Rolt, a decorated World War II veteran who had earned the Military Cross, was a skilled driver with experience at Le Mans, having competed there since 1950.
Duncan Hamilton, known for his colorful personality, was a talented racer. During the race, he suffered a dramatic incident when a bird struck him in the face at over 130 mph, fracturing his nose, yet he continued driving.
Performance:
The No. 18 C-Type completed 304 laps, covering approximately 2,534 miles (4,079 km) at an average speed of 105.85 mph (170.35 km/h). This was the first time a car won Le Mans at an average speed exceeding 100 mph, setting a new record for the event. The disc brakes gave Jaguar a significant advantage, allowing faster lap times and better reliability under the grueling conditions of the 24-hour race.
Race Context:
Stirling Moss and Peter Walker in the No. 17 C-Type led early but fell to second after a delay caused by a blocked fuel filter. The No. 19 C-Type, driven by Peter Whitehead and Ian Stewart, finished fourth. A Ferrari 375 MM, driven by Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi, took third, but Jaguar’s overall performance showcased their engineering prowess.
Significance
The 1953 victory was a landmark for Jaguar, cementing their reputation as a dominant force in endurance racing. The introduction of disc brakes was a game-changer, influencing the automotive industry as other manufacturers scrambled to adopt the technology. The win also boosted Jaguar’s global brand recognition, aligning with Lyons’ strategy of using racing success to drive sales of road cars like the XK120.
The Car’s Legacy
The No. 18 C-Type, like other factory team cars, was sold after the 1953 season as Jaguar shifted focus to the D-Type for 1954. While the exact fate of the No. 18 car is not detailed in the provided sources, many C-Types were raced by privateers and remain highly valued today. Authentic C-Types are prized collector’s items, with examples fetching millions at auction (e.g., a 1953 Le Mans-raced C-Type sold for £5,715,580 in 2016, and another for $13.2 million in 2015). The C-Type’s design influenced later Jaguar models, notably the D-Type and E-Type, and its disc brake innovation became a standard in automotive engineering.
