On 24 June 1951, Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead scored a historic debut victory with the Jaguar C-Type in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Designed as a competition car from the outset, the C-Type ushered in a new era at Le Mans of purpose-built racecars that continues to this day.
The brand new Jaguar had been developed in great secrecy by a talented team of engineers lead by William ‘Bill’ Heynes. After a disastrous outing in 1952, the C-Type would win Le Mans again, and also went on to pioneer the use of hydraulic disc brakes in motor racing.
The Le Mans-winning Jaguar was officially known as the XK120 C, with the C being short for Competition. By using this name, the British manufacturer suggested a direct link between the recently introduced XK120 production road car and the new sports racer. This was obviously a smart marketing ploy, but was also intended to placate the Le Mans organisers, who stressed that all the cars competing at Le Mans had regular production counterparts.
What the two cars definitely did share was the ‘XK’ straight-six engine. It was created on the insistence of Heynes, who convinced company founder and president, William Lyons, that Jaguar needed an engine of its own design and making.
Development reportedly started during the war, when Heynes discussed designs with Walter Hassan, Claude Bailly and Harry Weslake during fire watch turns on the roof of the
