1952 "droop snoot" C type
Discussion
I'd like to thank everybody here for their support and encouragement on this project. Following the sale of my long nose Lynx D type at the end of last year the car is now well advanced and will be at Stoneleigh this weekend, albeit without bodywork as just a rolling chassis. The engine is finished, the gearbox (close ratio 1952) is found, the wiring loom, in fact everything apart from an original C type steering wheel which hopefully will come to light perhaps at Beaulieu or somewhere this year. If not, well, copies are available. In a couple of weeks the car will go to CKL developments for the body to be made and hopefully the car will be finished at the end of November.Here are a couple of photos so far:-
The carbs were found on Ebay and the rest either made or bought in from specialist suppliers. The first outing is programmed for Hartley Wintney on the 1st January next. Once again, thanks to all for your encouragement.
The carbs were found on Ebay and the rest either made or bought in from specialist suppliers. The first outing is programmed for Hartley Wintney on the 1st January next. Once again, thanks to all for your encouragement.
Ah, yes and no is the answer to your question! All C types except the famous 1953 team cars had drum brakes. Only those three cars had discs and it was the first time that the 24 hour race had been won by a car with disc brakes. Similarly, if you look at the bonnet of the '53 cars there is a bonnet scoop since those cars had 3 40DCO3 Webers instead of two 2" SU H8 sand cast carbs.
Great to here your progress with your project. Keep us posted and I can't wait to see the finished car. Would be nice to make it to the Phoenix but not sure I will. Perhaps bits of the project will make it to XK60, I'm expecting to be there at Goodwood for the Friday and Saturday. Driving on the the Friday 
williamp said:
Fantastic lowdrag, well done and keep going!
Now, I;m going to show my Aston colours rather then jaguar colours, but didnt the C-type famously have disc brakes?
They look like drum brakes.
Anyhow, great story and I am looking forward to seeing this car in the future.
Williamp they didn't get the disc brakes till 1953. For 53 Jaguar reverted to the original shape car but they made a last batch of 3 C-Types (XKC054 wasn't really a C-Type) whilst they had the earlier body shape they were lighter, had improved rear suspension and were fed by Weber Carbs and of course introduced the disc brakes they'd been developing with Dunlop. These gave them a huge advantage in stopping and in drive train wear compared with the opposition. Now, I;m going to show my Aston colours rather then jaguar colours, but didnt the C-type famously have disc brakes?
They look like drum brakes.
Anyhow, great story and I am looking forward to seeing this car in the future.
Edited by a8hex on Friday 4th April 18:12
That's looking good Lowdrag, you must be getting excited.
There is nearly enough there to be able to start driving her. I guess fuel lines might be an issue, and you'd need a rad at some point
But she's looking good.
Hope you'll post some video once the engine running, well at least the sound track.
There is nearly enough there to be able to start driving her. I guess fuel lines might be an issue, and you'd need a rad at some point
But she's looking good.
Hope you'll post some video once the engine running, well at least the sound track.
lowdrag said:
Wheeeee! The wheels have arrived! 54 spoke and alloy rimmed - exactly as per the original 1952 ones!
I see you've gone for the Tourino alloy wheels rather than the Borannis. I'm considering a set of these for my DB Mk III. They are significantly more cost effective than Borannis but I can't find much feedback on them on the Internet. I'd be interested in your thoughts on them. Rich...Edited by RichB on Friday 2nd May 18:10
Just the usual promises of delivery and nothing arrives frankly. The top plate for the gearbox for example, which is completely different to an XK120. That was promised months back but nothing has arrived. However, that isn't holding things up much because the people who are building the body (the buck first) have two real C types in their workshop so they can start building the buck on one of those. I am now resigned to just waiting things out and hoping that it will be ready for the end of the year. At least at the moment I am bill free! As and when there is news to post I'll do so but don't hold your breath.
/quote]I see you've gone for the Tourino alloy wheels rather than the Borannis. I'm considering a set of these for my DB Mk III. They are significantly more cost effective than Borannis but I can't find much feedback on them on the Internet. I'd be interested in your thoughts on them. Rich...
[/quote]
I've got the Turrinos fitted on my Jaguar special and have used them before on a modified XK120 all without any problem. Apart from the cost of Borrani's aren't they quite difficult to get hold of ?
Edited by RichB on Friday 2nd May 18:10
[/quote]
I've got the Turrinos fitted on my Jaguar special and have used them before on a modified XK120 all without any problem. Apart from the cost of Borrani's aren't they quite difficult to get hold of ?
Now there are two thoughts on Turrino wheels made by wire wheel services. I suggest you read the Blockley Tyre site about an accident. It is rumoured, no more, that this was caused by (perhaps) Turrino wheels being slightly undersized causing the tyre to slip and turn ripping the valve out of the tube. From a wheel and tyre expert I heard that the wheels were not responsible and that the car had the wrong type of inner tubes - too thin and that one exploded. Be that as it may my wheels have been measured against a London taxi wheel and an MWS 16 inch steel XK wheel by an expert and found to be fractionally under size - 12mm approximately. His opinion is that they are perfectly adequte for the job and that the tyre will hold, not slip. Now a 16 inch steel wheel is about £140 (I think) but these, with alloy rims, are £750 each but that is what the car had at the time and so that it must be. For FIA papers I guess they accept the steel wheels since I have seen a few C types (real ones) wearing them but to me that isn't the point - I want the car to be an exact copy. Borrani are an alternative but extremely expensive. Anyway, Wire wheel Services have made these wheels for Stirling Moss for over 20 years and he has never had a problem so I doubt I will either. This car is to race once if I can get it accepted - Le Mans Classic 2010 since Le Mans is the only place the car ever raced. Other than that it is for my enjoyment. Wheels are a personal matter of choice, but the manufacturers were extrememly attentive and even phoned to ask exactly what offset we wanted so they would be exactly correct. I have however taken Julian Majoub's advice and bought my rim tape and inner tubes from him.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff