Jaguar C-type

The ninth volume for the in-depth Great Cars series focuses on its fourth Jaguar, and the ex-works C-type ‘XKC 051’ certainly deserves inclusion. The 1953 Le Mans saga and Ecurie Ecosse history make up two-thirds of this 320-pager, with entertaining biographies of key drivers such as the charismatic Duncan Hamilton. Later years in America make fascinating reading, including the bizarre body mods by Miles Brubacher, its display as a chassis in the Cunningham Museum, and its final return to the Hamilton family. Even the outrageous abuse by ‘The Stig’ Perry Mccarthy is covered.

Now authentically restored, this historic C-type gets the full studio treatment by Swiss specialist Michel Zumbrunn – but bizarrely with a Moto-lita steering wheel! This is one of the series’ best so far. MW £60 Chas Parker and Philip Porter, Porter Press. ISBN 978 1 907085 46 8