When I was a teenager, this guy who lived down the street had a Jaguar XK-120C. Yep, I’ll readily admit it – I lusted after his sweet ride. As I recall, it was a 1952 and had been restored to immaculate condition. By the way, the “C” stood for Competition and this car was made for it. She had enough horsepower to blow the doors off of just about any beefed-up muscle car around.
I suspect I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for this “faster than a speeding bullet” beauty.
That’s why I’m so excited about the newest replica car produced by Shell Valley Companies (http://www.shellvalley.com). Called the 1951 Jag C-Type Replica, this replicar made its debut at the Run ‘N Gun rally, followed by a hugely popular appearance at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.
Shell Valley has built their Jag replica on a modified Cobra frame, allowing for a 98” wheelbase and a Ford 9” rear end. It accepts either a small block Ford or Chevrolet drive train and your choice of transmission. It also features updated chassis components and a customized interior design. Shell Valley has even designed the dashboard to accept VDO gauges for that wonderfully classic ‘50s Jag look. Their website lists the starting price for this beauty at $18,990.
Now, in case you’re not familiar with the Jag C-Type race car, it was a spin-off of the Jaguar XK-120, which was one of the fastest road cars around in the late 1940s. The designers at Jaguar streamlined the body and made it more lightweight with tubular steel, then dropped in the newly developed XK 6-cylinder engine, effectively creating one of the most powerful and successful race cars of that era. In fact, the Jag C-Type race car racked up Jaguar’s first two LeMans wins (1951 and 1953), blazing past Ferraris and Maseratis alike.
If you’re interested in getting more information on Shell Valley’s newest replica car, the 1951 Jag C-Type Replica, give them a shout at their corporate headquarters in Platte Center, Nebraska (800-356-9198) or check out their website.
