Lot 648: 1992 Jaguar C-Type Replica by Proteus

A few years ago, Proteus Cars and Classic English Racing Automobiles announced that they were joining forces, and with over 30 years of combined experience in the classic Jaguar industry, set up their operation at the CERA factory near Romsey, Hampshire, where they are now concentrating on recreating the loveliest Jaguar sports car, the C-Type.
The XK120C’s astonishing debut victory in the 1951 Le Mans 24-Hour Race and its follow-up win in ’53 established Jaguar’s first purpose-built racing sports car as one of the all-time great competition automobiles. This Proteus (née Copycats) replica of Jaguar’s Le Mans-winning C-Type was constructed using a Classic English Racing Automobiles chassis and completed in 1992. Unlike many of the alternative C-Type replicas, Classic ERA’s follows the original Jaguar design closely, featuring a tubular steel spaceframe chassis and hand-formed 16-gauge aluminium bodywork, the latter incorporating a long-range fuel tank and enlarged pedal box. The torsion-bar independent front suspension is from a Jaguar Mk2 saloon, while the live rear axle - also Mk2 - is a coil-sprung Salisbury unit incorporating a Powr-Lok limited-slip differential. Built by John Gregson, the engine is a 3.4-litre XK ‘six’, which drives via a Jaguar XJ6 ‘compact’ gearbox built by Alan George.
The vehicle served as the company demonstrator, being used on two occasions for photographic work in its early days, and has been retained by the proprietor for his own personal use. It took part in the 40th and 50th Anniversary celebrations at Le Mans and was also invited to the Jabekke celebrations in Belgium.
Restored in 2003 and finished in British Racing Green with matching full leather-trimmed interior, the car has covered a genuine 14,000 miles since construction. It is offered with restoration invoices, current MoT/road fund licence and Swansea V5 registration document.