RE: McNab's Jaguar C -Type
Discussion
Great memories, McNab!
The C-type featured in Alan Clark's motoring memories ("Backfire") must be from around the same time: equipped with drum brakes it apparently won Le Mans in 1951 (registration number VSU 669) - do you remember it?
I can recommend the book, by the way, as 'romantic' motoring memoirs (even if, collected together, they do repeat a number of themes).
Edited by jeremyc on Friday 4th January 18:11
The C-type featured in Alan Clark's motoring memories ("Backfire") must be from around the same time: equipped with drum brakes it apparently won Le Mans in 1951 (registration number VSU 669) - do you remember it?
I can recommend the book, by the way, as 'romantic' motoring memoirs (even if, collected together, they do repeat a number of themes).
Edited by jeremyc on Friday 4th January 18:11
Thanks Jeremy! Funnily enough the 1951 winner was 003, driven by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead the year before I joined the team. It was the same car that I drove thereafter with Peter Whitehead! Peter Walker paired up with S. Moss after 1951 - he will live forever in history as the driver who burned his feet very badly in the V-16 BRM, but still carried on until that unfortunate device broke.
Peter Walker was one of the world's most likeable and kind people (so indeed was Peter Whitehead), but the motoring press witter on about his hung-over state before the 1952 Le Mans to this day. Peter's problem was strawberries - not booze! We didn't practice on the evening before the race - went out to Arnage instead to watch the opposition - and unfortunately there was a local there selling the deadly berries. P.W. couldn't stop eating them, with disastrous results the following morning!!
The registration number you mention will have been given to the car later, because Jaguar didn't register the works cars (much too expensive!). They painted Trade Plates on them instead - very smart they looked too...
Peter Walker was one of the world's most likeable and kind people (so indeed was Peter Whitehead), but the motoring press witter on about his hung-over state before the 1952 Le Mans to this day. Peter's problem was strawberries - not booze! We didn't practice on the evening before the race - went out to Arnage instead to watch the opposition - and unfortunately there was a local there selling the deadly berries. P.W. couldn't stop eating them, with disastrous results the following morning!!
The registration number you mention will have been given to the car later, because Jaguar didn't register the works cars (much too expensive!). They painted Trade Plates on them instead - very smart they looked too...
Just go to www.pistonheads.com/gassing and away you go...
In 1959 I was doing a paper round on the borders of Acton (West London)in order to pay for my motor mags (Autocar, Motor and Motor Sport). The other paperboys were fascinated by the about to be launched Mini Minors being secretly delivered to Stewart and Arden, who had a very large showroom and workshop near the paper shop, but I was more fascinated by the C Type Jaguar that was parked overnight in the street near the shop. It looked black but was a very patinated BRG, had well lived in cloth seats, RW registration with a route card holder and drinks bottle fixed to the dash, there was a small container on a steering wheel spoke with a piece of sponge and a small chamois leather on a string.
Clearly it made a great impression on me.
I helped with a push start one morning and was so entralled with the sound as it started that I forgot where I had left the paperbag and consequentally got the sack, it was worth it.
It had Girling Disc brakes rather than the Jaguar fitted Dunlops and sported Triple Webbers. I was told it was ex Moss but it was not the ex Moss car that competed at the 1963 Blackbush Drag Fest.
What I am saying in a very roundabout way is that surely that was a golden era (but perhaps one of many) as you could leave a C Type in the streets of West London and it was still there complete and unvandalised the next day.
Clearly it made a great impression on me.
I helped with a push start one morning and was so entralled with the sound as it started that I forgot where I had left the paperbag and consequentally got the sack, it was worth it.
It had Girling Disc brakes rather than the Jaguar fitted Dunlops and sported Triple Webbers. I was told it was ex Moss but it was not the ex Moss car that competed at the 1963 Blackbush Drag Fest.
What I am saying in a very roundabout way is that surely that was a golden era (but perhaps one of many) as you could leave a C Type in the streets of West London and it was still there complete and unvandalised the next day.
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