Market Finds: A Jaguar For When The Best Is Not Quite Good Enough

A Jaguar For When The Best Is Not Quite Good Enough

By Petrolicious
July 13, 2015

Photography by: Simon Clay

If you could make your own car, what would you build?

Perhaps more important, actually, is who you’ll ask to build it. Choosing to have a ’50s-inspired sports racing car built to your specifications is special, but even more so is who did the work on this stunning, one-of-a-kind CMC Jaguar that is now being offered for sale.

As we’ve shown on Petrolicious many times, our modern world is still filled with the sort of craftspeople who could have worked alongside the masters at Italian carrozzeria. Many are in restoration, some do private work, but most importantly, the methods, measurements, materials, and tools used have often been updated to the latest technologies.

For starters, with a chassis engineered to contemporary standards by Adrian Reynard, a man that spends his working hours constructing championship-winning race cars, it should give you an indication that this CMC Jaguar isn’t your typical one-off sports car.

Built to last

Designed and constructed to be a faithful companion during long-distance touring and road rally events, at its heart is a built 320 horsepower (!) Jaguar XK straight-6! That’s surely enough power, when all one is lugging around is a race-bred tubular steel chassis and hand-made aluminum bodywork…

The creator was obsessive in his quest to create a car to fit his vision of the ideal sports racing Jaguar, and so this car even includes both a folding convertible top and stowable tonneau cover.

It’s usually difficult to find an independent opinion of a bespoke car, but this vehicle was reviewed by a few members of the motoring press, who were very enthusiastic. Writing in Telegraph Motoring, Malcolm McKay said, “As I trickle the car through town, I’m struck by the engine’s tremendous flexibility. Later, I try putting it into fifth, at 1,000 rpm, uphill, and floor the throttle. Away it goes, without sputtering or complaining: amazing.”

The Car

  • Bodywork: Handmade aluminum body by Classic Motor Cars Limited (CMC); approximately 1,906 lbs (865 kg)
  • Engine: 320 bhp 4.7-litre Jaguar XK straight-6 with three Weber carburetors and a host of other improvements, built by Rob Beere Racing to fast road specifications
  • Transmission: All-syncromesh 5-speed Temec manual with limited-slip differential
  • Weather protection: Folding convertible top and tonneau cover
  • Front suspension: Modified Jaguar independent with adjustable anti-roll bar
  • Rear suspension: Modified Jaguar independent
  • Brakes: Non-assisted; ventilated front discs and solid rear discs
  • Wheels: Borrani-styled 16-inch aluminum with stainless steel spokes
  • Interior: Adjustable steering wheel and pedal box; original Jaguar XK gauges with 180 mph speedometer; period ’50s Breitling 8-day military aircraft clock with “time of trip” function; custom rebuilt XK steering wheel
  • Featured in Classic & Sportscar, Jaguar Driver, Telegraph Motoring, and Jaguar Enthusiast

Ownership

The car is coming from a small private collection of ’40s–’70’s exotica and been kept in a heated garage. It has been maintained in perfect working order, having done about five hundred miles in the last year. It is being regretfully offered for sale purely to make room for something else.

It comes with special parts to modify the driver’s seat for a shorter driver, the steering wheel that was fitted from new, the tonneau cover, hood and sticks, and original body bucks. The history file includes copies of its magazine mentions and a host of other pertinent information about the car.

Our take

Owning another person’s vision for the perfect sports racing car is perhaps the only hurdle in considering this car. Looks are subjective, but by any measure, the CMC Jaguar is more than able to run with the Jaguar factory racing cars of the ’50s…albeit much more reliably and at far less expense.

  1. It is for the enthusiast who loves to drive, and is excited about acquiring a vehicle that’s been thoroughly designed, engineered, built, and finished to the highest standard.

The price is GBP £175,000; you can contact Mark Shannon at:

Mobile: +44 (0) 7785 937756
Office: +44 (0) 1483 300882
Email: fazzaz[at]markshannon.net 
Website: www.markshannon.net

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Bertram Wooster
Bertram Wooster
9 years ago

I love everything except the color!

Riccardo
Riccardo
9 years ago

I’m not so sure about this one (and similar creations like Mechatronik etc). On the one hand I really like the exclusivity and craftmanship. I love that its a work of passion before anything else and its trying to improve the designs of yesteryear with today’s knowledge while remaining faithful to the original concepts which are so much more interesting than many of today’s creations.

On the other hand, what I don’t quite get is “what is this car”? Is it a classic? No, and you wouldn’t be allowed into classic events, it has no history. Is it a modern then? Not really I think, as the starting point and peer group is what was around in the 60’s and therefore is still heavily compromised. I just find its in a bit of a no mans land…

Then you consider the selling price and realise how many “genuine” cars you could get for that same money (classic or modern) and it even makes less sense to me!

jolocho
jolocho
9 years ago
Reply to  Riccardo

If it was made today by Lister or Zagato would it be genuine to you?

My only complaint is the central gauge placement. The tach should be right in front of the driver.

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
9 years ago
Reply to  jolocho

Good point on the first sentence . On the 2nd as stated to Mr Lange its the Shelby Cobra posterior that is my only complaint .. which errr .. Mr Lange and I may of resolved …

Riccardo
Riccardo
9 years ago
Reply to  jolocho

No, its the concept that I don’t quite “get”, nothing to do with the manufacturer. (Does Zagato do anything like this today?)

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
9 years ago
Reply to  Riccardo

No but Weismann used to ;

http://www.wiesmann.com/en

Hmmn . Come to think of it . This thing sure does resemble a Weismann from almost every angle . Only for some reason Weismann did it better . Hmmmn .

Soren Ingram
Soren Ingram
9 years ago

The only Chassis pic looks like taffeta or clean-ex and un able to control the forces experienced by a sports/racing car.
It may be ok to go down to the local Starbucks with no load on for a primp and shine day.
Give me an old school C-Type any day

Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
9 years ago

I like it, would probably want to change the colour to a more 50/60’s appropriate one as it looks too much like a 2000’s BMW colour at the moment.

Also wondering what it would look like as a coupe?

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
9 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Lange

BRG Mr Lange ? And as a fastback coupe perhaps ? Whoa baby [ apologies for the moment of Yank ] … that would put this over the top and above all Eagle’s offerings for me . Ohhhh yeah ! BRG and a fastback coupe . The brain cells are spinning a mile a minute conjuring that one up ……………….. yup … it works ! [ levity intended ]

PS; My one sticking point with this car is the posterior which looks way too much like a Shelby Cobra’s rump for my tastes [ I love Cobras but not a JagObra half breed ] .. but a fastback coupe modification would fix that toot suite !

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
9 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

Amend that to read ‘ 427 Shelby Cobra

Thomas maine
Thomas maine
9 years ago

nice looking car from what I can see. I am just wondering why there is not one single, clear shot of the cars rear end?

Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
9 years ago
Reply to  Thomas maine

There’s a rear view picture on CMC’s website http://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/restorations/lindner/ along with some of their other work

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
9 years ago

I like it . I get it . I sure as ___ appreciate it . But in all honesty I’d take one of Eagle’s offerings over this in a heartbeat . Just one mans opinion mind you .

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