CMC Project Car
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
We were approached in the summer of 2004 by a Jaguar enthusiast to build a car in the idiom of the golden age of sports racing cars of the 1950s/ early 1960s. This client was not interested in a high-priced replica or a pastiche of previous models but commissioned a one-off in the spirit of cars available in period to a gentleman racer and produced by small companies such as HWM, Cooper, Alta, etc. The car was to be based on period Jaguar running gear - engine, transmission, suspension, non-servo disc brakes, period instruments and so on. It was designed for road use and track days.
CMC's experience in the restoration and repair of many significant cars from this period (C-type, D-type, Cooper-Jaguar and HWM) meant we were uniquely qualified to undertake this project.
The project started with the purchase of a Reynard-designed tubular chassis which could take the required Jaguar mechanics. The rest was down to CMC.
Designing the body shape was done by means of a series of drawings (image 1) passing backwards and forwards between us and the client over a period of about six weeks. No computer aided design here! Shapes, lines and ideas were drawn from our thoughts and experience. Once the body design had been agreed, we began the construction of the aluminium body.
This photo (image 2) shows the chassis built up with dummy engine, transmission and suspension. We needed all mechanical items in place before building the body. The other car in the picture is OKV 1, Jaguar's first racing D-type which we restored back in 2000/2001.
This photograph (image 3) show the plywood buck being made. This was used to support the aluminium panels as they were being made in sections. The next photograph (image 4) shows the finished buck with part of the centre panel in place.
The next stage was to remove the outer skins and make inner panels (images 5, 6 & 7). Here the car can be seen with all its mechanical components fitted: engine gearbox, suspension and brakes.
At this stage, we manufactured ancillary items such as header tank and radiator - basically everything that fits in and around the engine compartment. Trying to package and make everything accessible was a real challenge.
Next came the design of the dashboard and instrument panels (image 8). All instruments used are period Jaguar components except for the time clock which is a period Brietling. The windscreen was designed in-house. We first made up an aluminium jig and then passed this to Pilkingtons for them to manufacture the unique screen. Special tooling had to be produced to manufacture the curved laminated glass.
With the body completely finished (images 9 & 10), it was ready for painting. The panel finish was as good as it looks and the painting process simply consisted of etch priming, priming and painting - virtually no body filler was required.
Before painting, we designed and fitted the hood frame (images 11 & 12) and made patterns for the hood cover and a mock-up of the seats. Note the raised area behind the driver's seat; this idea was later rejected.
After painting, the car was built up with all the mechanical parts and this just left the cosmetics, such as trim and chrome work. All the interior was designed and manufactured in-house along with the hood and tonneau covers.
The hood is stowed behind the seats and the car has a full length tonneau cover (images 13 & 14).
The attention to these details makes all the difference: bespoke headlight cowls were manufactured with chrome moulds around the edge and the side screens were made in-house with chrome details. Even with the hood up, the car looks good. A full-size spare wheel lives in the boot which restricts luggage space somewhat.
This was a project that every member of staff added to in some way. The finished product is a great testament to the skill and ingenuity of British craftsmanship.
To drive this vehicle on the open road is just fantastic; the acceleration is wonderful making overtaking safe and easy. The noise from the side exit exhaust system gives you goose bumps; road holding and grip in corners is awesome. The car drives like a large go-kart; the distance from the ground to the top of the windscreen is just 39 inches(1 metre.
The specification for the car is as follows:
- Tubular steel chassis.
- 6-cylinder XK engine.
- Engine bored and stroked to 4.7 litres, running on triple Weber carburettors. Over 300 BHP and equal amounts of torque.
- Tremec five-speed close ratio gearbox.
- Jaguar XJ6 front uprights with upper and lower wishbones.
- Custom-made 2.5 turn rack and pinion steering.
- Jaguar IRS differential with limited slip rigidly mounted to the chassis.
- Suspension: coil over Bilstein shock absorbers.
- Unservoed disc brakes outboard on rear.
- Borrani-style wire wheels: 7 inch wide, 15 inch diameter with 225/60/15 tyres.
- Total weight approximately 865kg.
- Period Jaguar instruments.
- Period Ferrari seat belts.
- Exterior colour: Maserati Grigio Nuvolari.
- Interior: full leather in Claret.
- 16-gallon fuel tank.