Owning a piece of history: Jaguar C Type Owner Richard Frankel Interview

If you research the history of the Jaguar C-type, you’ll get tons of information – like when it was made (1951-53), how it came to be called the C-Type (originating from the XK120-C, where C stood for competition), and why it became the most famous of Jaguar’s creations. The answer is simple, because it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.

The 3.4-litre, twin-overhead-camshaft, 6 cylinder 160bhp engine that went into the XK120 was capable of doing 193km/h. This same engine made its way into the C-Type – but with the engine tuned purely for performance, it churned out 205bhp. With drivers like Sir Stirling Moss, Clemente Biondetti, Peter Walker, and Peter Whitehead trying their best to manoeuvre this beast around the circuit, the C-type became an icon – and its drivers’ legends.

We got a chance to talk to Richard Frankel, owner of the C-type that recently landed in Mumbai, to ask him about these legends, and this iconic car that makes you go weak in the knees.

In a world of iconic cars like the Mercedes 300SL, where does the C-type stand?
I love the German cars, and I have one or two of them. But what I can say about Jaguar is that they’re the most practical cars to drive. They’re not temperamental, you can drive them on the circuit as Sir Stirling did, and then sit in the same car and go home – and that’s something we don’t get to see today. I don’t know about the Mercedes, but the C-type is just the most wonderful car – and it’s a privilege to own one. It’s the loveliest thing to own. I think you can’t replace this car with any other.

Maintaining iconic cars is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. How has it been with the C-type?
I bought the car ten years ago, and it was restored mildly by the previous owner. I maintain it, look after it, and we drive it on the road still. I even take it out on the Mille Miglia, and various other rallies. We then service it, but since it’s a Jaguar it doesn’t take a lot of maintenance. I have a mechanic at home, and he looks after my cars and they are all broadly oil tight – so, no leaks whatsoever. The C-type has been used a lot. We change the oil every three hours running if it’s racing, or maybe 1,500 miles on the road. We change the plugs, the points, and maintain it properly. One of the worst things you can do to a used car is keep it in the garage, start it up occasionally, and then expect it to work. It’s labour intensive, but you have to take the pains to reap the benefits.

The C-type has been driven by some of the best drivers in the world like Sir Stirling Moss, which current racer according to you would be able to handle the car?
I think it would be a great honour for any of these racers to drive a car that Sir Stirling Moss has raced. I think a lot of the drivers today are paid professional drivers, who are there to win races and perhaps don’t have the sympathy for these machines. I know for a fact that F1 driver Sebastian Vettel is a very understanding and passionate car guy. For that matter, even Michael Schumacher. A lot of them are just there to drive the machines. A modern car is comparatively unbreakable, while in older ones you have to watch out for the clutch, brakes, plugs, oil – a lot of things. So, a car like the C-type commands that kind of respect, and needs to be treated that way.

You still haven’t answered my question.
Well, as I said earlier, I am very conscious about who drives it. But, if I had to make a choice, it would have to be between Schumacher or Vettel – probably Vettel. These guys know their cars. I have met Vettel more than once, and I know how he feels about cars. So yes, I won’t mind handing over the keys to him.

There are a lot of replicas of cars like the C-type available now, what are your impressions about these machines?
Yes, these are out and about now, and I must say they are good looking. These replicas take us back to the old times, and I am glad that there are more people like me who want to see these cars on the road. Whatever the cost, they want a piece of history to be restored. The work done by those who build these machines is phenomenal. There’s a lot of work and patience at play here, and it is indeed commendable that people are buying these cars. I only worry about those who try and pass it off as the real deal. There is a difference between an original painting, and its replica. And they should be humble enough to appreciate the originality.

Check out www.autox.com to see a review of the C-type driven in Coventry – the home of Jaguar.