Filed under: Aftermarket, UK
Buy a brand new Jag XK120 C for $133,000
Proteus, maker of hand-crafted replicas of bygone sports cars, is coming to America. Recently purchased by Enduro Cars, Proteus plans to restart production of its carbon copy Jaguar XK120 C -- the record-breaking Le Mans-conquering roadster -- that you'll be able to purchase for $133.000.
In addition to the XK 120 C, the company is looking at making a Lightweight E-Type and perhaps some early F1 cars. Last year, Proteus showed a C-Type coupe to the public to gauge reaction. No decisions have been made yet on that car, but the 21-year-old company is planning to begin fabricating three more Jags -- the SS100, XKSS, and D-Type – as well as the Aston Martin DB3S and the racing version of the gullwing 300SL, the 300SLR.
The company builds about 150 units of the XK 120 C per year, and each all-aluminum car comes with a 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty. Sure, it'll cost you $133,000, but that will get you a one of the most beautiful cars ever penned and cost a lot less in the long run than the original.
[Source: Gizmag]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard 8:54AM (1/11/2008)
IMO, the C-Type is the most gorgeous and feminine automobile ever produced. And - as a confessed Subaru fan-boy - I know beauty (joke).
I am off to buy lottery tickets because this is the car I really want!
Along with a new STi (I do live in New England, after all).
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mk 11:02AM (1/11/2008)
you and me are right there on the same page, buddy.
and that ecurie ecosse white on flag blue is just the color I want, too.
damn, they don't make cars look as good as they used to...
calebe 9:31AM (1/11/2008)
what is the power train? spec's?
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chuck goolsbee 10:41AM (1/11/2008)
Likely as identical to the original as possible, namely a Jaguar XK engine. There are zillions of them available as it was in production for six decades, from the late forties through the early 90s. The most numerous, up-to-date, and available version would be the 4.2 liter from the Series 3 XJ.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_XK6_engine
http://www.jagweb.com/aj6eng/xk_performance.html
The XK engine has a long and storied racing history and is a ton of fun to drive when mated to a small, lightweight car such as a C-type. It has massive amounts of torque from very low on the rev band due to the big-bore, long stroke design. It is NOT a rev-happy engine, but it pulls from 500 RPM up. I had a friend who owns a Honda S2000 drive my E-type and told him to shift from 1st to 4th at 20 MPH and he was shocked when the car handled that with aplomb and continued to accelerate right from there up to 100 MPH. Just add your right foot and go.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
chuck goolsbee 10:48AM (1/11/2008)
Likely as identical to the original as possible, namely a Jaguar XK engine. There are zillions of them available as it was in production for six decades, from the late forties through the early 90s. The most numerous, up-to-date, and available version would be the 4.2 liter from the Series 3 XJ.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_XK6_engine
http://www.jagweb.com/aj6eng/xk_performance.html
The XK engine has a long and storied racing history and is a ton of fun to drive when mated to a small, lightweight car such as a C-type.XJ. It has massive amounts of torque from very low on the rev band due to the big-bore, long stroke design. It is NOT a rev-happy engine, but it pulls from 500 RPM up. I had a friend who owns a Honda S2000 drive my E-type and told him to shift from 1st to 4th at 20 MPH and he was shocked when the car handled that with aplomb and continued to accelerate right from there up to 100 MPH. Just add your right foot and go.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Richard 12:34PM (1/11/2008)
I don't remember - heck, I'm not that old - but I think that the XK-120 - upon which this is based - had a solid rear axle.
Anyone remember?
chrisdavis 12:46PM (1/11/2008)
Small bore/long stroke or "undersquare" design
mk 1:28PM (1/11/2008)
Not sure if the XK-120 or XK-C was the first to use the independent rear axle that Jaguar designed (half shaft used as a stressed upper control arm, in addition to a tubular lower control arm, and inboard brakes, sandwiching the differential.) that some kit car builders still use today. It is decent for WWII-era tech, and has a lot of clearance, as a small assembly compared to double wishbone IRS systems.
It does have some heat issues with the brakes/differentials being so close, on heavier cars with more power, and overheating the differential lube and seals.
Some of them used de Dion independent axles, also, I think... but I am not clear on which models used which axles.
Alex 9:46AM (1/11/2008)
It may not be an original, but i love it and i want one! Infact i want all four of the possible cars that they are going to produce. I'm with Richard, i need to play the lotto.
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Russell 9:56AM (1/11/2008)
As for powertrains, a straight six is the obvious choice....an RB26 or 3SGTE should do it. Probably shouldnt over-do it with boost though....maybe 20 or 25lbs...
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mk 11:02AM (1/11/2008)
my god, I hope you aren't serious.
A japanese turbocharged inline 6, or a bmw inline 6 are very nice motors, don't get me wrong.
but this car can't possibly have anything besides a proper XK engine, ~3.8 liters, with triple side draught webber carburetors. At MINIMUM, 3 SU-type carburetors.
Leave the modern engines in modern cars, in this case.
olddavid 8:48AM (1/14/2008)
I know the purists will be outraged, but this seems to me to be a no-brainer. If I was spending that kind of money for a car, why not a well-constructed updated classic like this? Several years ago a company in SoCal bought all the mid 60's GTO's, Chevelles, etc. it could afford, put 350EFI 4-wheel disc powertrains under them, and sold them for a damn decent price. What ever became of that enterprise? Besides, if I could afford that $$$ for a car, then I could also make it a daily driver, something even I wouldn't consider with an original XK.
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