How This Jaguar C-Type Became One Of The Most Valuable Classic Cars In The World

The Concours of Elegance 2025, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, is set to host one of Britain’s most significant racing legends: the Jaguar C-Type. Among the rarest and most desirable classic cars, the C-Type has earned its place in history as a motorsport icon. This year, visitors to Hampton Court Palace from 5th–7th September will have the privilege of seeing one of the most original surviving examples. The car is chassis XKC-015.

Not just any C-Type, this particular car boasts an illustrious past, having once belonged to Masten Gregory. The American racer, hailed by Carroll Shelby as “the fastest American ever,” etched his name into motorsport folklore with his fearless driving style. His former Jaguar, still bearing its evocative patina, promises to be a highlight of the prestigious event.

The Jaguar C-Type: A Racing Revolution

In the early 1950s, Jaguar sought to build on the success of the XK120, refining its formula to dominate endurance racing. Enter the Jaguar C-Type, an engineering marvel designed to take on the world’s toughest circuits. Under the bonnet lay a 3.4-litre straight-six engine, delivering over 200bhp. This, combined with a lightweight tubular chassis and aerodynamic aluminium bodywork, allowed the C-Type to accelerate from 0-60mph in around six seconds. It also hit a top speed of 140mph.

Only 53 C-Types were built between 1951 and 1953, making them highly collectible today. The car’s crowning glory came at Le Mans in 1951 and 1953, where Jaguar’s innovative disc brakes helped secure outright victories. It was a game-changer, proving that superior braking technology could decide the outcome of a race.

XKC-015: The Masten Gregory Connection

Chassis XKC-015 rolled out of Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory on 14th October 1952, finished in cream with a suede green interior. It was delivered to Charles Hornburg, Jaguar’s West Coast distributor. He played a pivotal role in introducing British sports cars to the American market.

The car’s first owner raced it only once before selling it in 1953 to Masten Gregory, a rising star in motorsport. Dubbed the “Kansas City Flash,” Gregory was a wealthy heir with a natural talent for speed. At just 23, he piloted XKC-015 to victory at Stillwater, Oklahoma. He then clinched another win at the Guardsman Trophy race in San Francisco.

His success attracted the attention of Road & Track magazine, which struggled to source a Jaguar C-Type for testing. Gregory generously offered his, but only on the condition that it survived the Golden Gate Road Races. Not only did XKC-015 make it through unscathed, but it also won the race. The subsequent review in Road & Track cemented the C-Type’s status as one of the finest sports cars of its era.

A Close Call and a Quick Sale

Gregory’s ownership ended dramatically during practice for a race in New York. A high-speed spin resulted in a fiery crash, but he managed to escape unscathed. Unshaken, he returned to the pits and sold the car on the spot, replacing it with another Jaguar C-Type, XKC-022.

His career, however, soared. Gregory became the first American driver to score a podium in his Formula 1 debut. He later won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965. He remains one of the few racers to compete in the Triple Crown of Motorsport – Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, and the Monaco Grand Prix. His legacy lives on. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2013.

XKC-015: A Second Life

Following its accident, XKC-015 was swiftly repaired and returned to racing. It made headlines again when it set the Mount Washington hill climb record. This time, it was without its bodywork, causing quite a spectacle.

By the 1960s, the car changed hands several times before appearing in a classified advert in Road & Track in 1964. A Milwaukee-based enthusiast, Mark Daniels, snapped it up for a mere $2,500 – equivalent to about $25,000 today. Considering the car’s current multimillion-pound value, it was a bargain of a lifetime.

At the time, XKC-015 was in poor condition. Daniels embarked on an exacting restoration, using only original C-Type parts. So dedicated was he to authenticity that he acquired another Jaguar C-Type, XKC-034, as a donor vehicle. The result was a painstakingly accurate rebuild that preserved every element of the car’s original character.

A Family Affair and a Return to the UK

Daniels ensured that XKC-015 remained in action, using it for spirited road trips and track outings. His son later recalled late-night drives and high-speed runs to Road America. The Jaguar’s unsilenced straight-six engine roared through the Wisconsin countryside.

After 14 years of ownership, the car moved to Canada before making its way back to the UK in the 1980s. Today, it stands as one of the most historically significant Jaguar C-Types. It retains much of its original material, which is a rarity for race-used examples.

At the Concours of Elegance 2025, this remarkable machine will join 60 other rare and important automobiles from leading private collections worldwide. Its weathered paint, untouched upholstery, and race-worn details tell a story of courage, competition, and craftsmanship.

More Than Just a Car Show

Beyond the concours display, visitors can enjoy several special features:

• The Levitt Concours: Celebrating the most passionate female collectors.
• 30UNDER30: Showcasing classic car enthusiasts under 30.
• The Club Trophy: Gathering the finest cars from UK car clubs.

Guests will also experience world-class hospitality, with champagne from Charles Heidsieck and picnics by Fortnum & Mason. Luxury brands from the worlds of fashion, jewellery, and horology will be present, with presenting partner A. Lange & Söhne showcasing its most intricate timepieces.

If you regularly visit our website or follow us on social media we will be running a competition in the coming months, where we will have 5 pairs of tickets to give away, so make sure you enter our competition. Competitions here.

Cannot wait for our competition, or don’t want to leave it to chance, then buy your tickets Here.

Secure Your Place

Concours of Elegance 2025 promises to be a spectacle of beauty, history, and craftsmanship. Seeing XKC-015 in the metal, with its rich past and battle-worn charm, is an unmissable opportunity for any classic car enthusiast.

Will you be attending this year’s event? What’s your favourite racing Jaguar of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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