1954 Jaguar C-Type Hawker Racing

This Jaguar C-Type re-creation was meticulously constructed in the 2010s by Hawker Racing of Suffolk, UK an outfit formed as an extension of Hawker Restorations, the world-renowned vintage aircraft restoration specialists. Hand-built with aluminum bodywork over a steel tube frame, this example is said to be part of a limited run of high-accuracy recreations. It was purchased a few years ago from a prominent Long Island collection and is now offered by us with years of service invoices and a New Jersey title identifying it as a 1954 Jaguar.


The bodywork was shaped by Clive Smart of Shapecraft in Northampton, UK, a master metal shaper responsible for more than 250 bodies, including commissions for Nick and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Finished in black with #54 roundels on the hood, flanks, and tail, the car received a paint correction in 2022. Exterior details include faired-in Lucas tri-bar headlights, leather bonnet straps, a full-width fixed windshield with Brooklands aero screens behind it, dual mirrors, a Monza-style filler, and dual side-pipe exhaust outlets. Chrome 16" wire wheels with two-eared knock-offs are wrapped in Avon Turbospeed Mk 4 tires.


Correctness and authenticity set this C-Type apart. It features the proper torsion-bar front suspension rarely seen in recreations with Mark VII upper control arms, bespoke lower control arms, correct torsion blocks, and proper steering knuckles. The rear suspension mirrors original C-Type architecture with blade-type lower control arms, upper side links, and a Panhard rod. Steering is handled by a correct-type rack-and-pinion steering rack, which alone is a $7,000 component to source. The chassis was supplied by Classic Chassis Services, one of the UK's most respected manufacturers of Jaguar racing frames.


Power comes from a 3.4-liter Jaguar XK inline-six equipped with twin SU carburetors, twin Lucas coils, an authentic cold-air box, dual overhead cams, and proper cast three-into-one exhaust manifolds not repurposed parts from later production Jaguars. Output is routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. Mechanical service in 2022 included carburetor cleaning, radiator repairs, a fuel-system flush, and all fluid changes.


Four-wheel drum brakes provide stopping power, and the brake fluid reservoir was replaced in 2022. The car also features independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering consistent with period design.


Inside, the right-hand-drive cockpit features fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in red leather with silver-finished interior panels. Details include red leather pull straps, a polished shift knob, a passenger grab handle, and a dash-mounted mirror. Smiths instrumentation includes a 160-mph speedometer, reverse-sweep tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for amperage, fuel, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows just 391 miles.


Jaguar originally built approximately 50 C-Types, including the 1951 and 1953 Le Mans winners, making authentic examples unattainable for most collectors. This Hawker Racing build offers an opportunity to own a highly faithful, aluminum-bodied, hand-formed tribute constructed by some of the most respected craftsmen in the UK combining period-correct engineering, exceptional detail accuracy, and extremely low mileage.