In early 2021, Ecurie Ecosse launched the LM-C racing car celebrating the success of the racing team’s Jaguar C-Types in the 1950s. As with the original Jaguar C-Type, all the gauges are SMITHS, designed and manufactured by the Caerbont Automotive Instruments (CAI) team in Abercrave, South Wales.
Ecurie Ecosse is Scotland’s own national racing team. Founded in 1951 by Edinburgh accountant David Murray, the team made huge waves on the International Motor racing circuit by winning the fabled Le Mans 24 hour race outright in 1956 and 1957. The Ecurie Ecosse team’s relationship with the Jaguar C-Type dates back to 1952 when driver Ian Stewart first collected his C-Type from the Jaguar factory.
The Ecurie Ecosse LM-C retains all the key elements that contributed to the roaring success of the 1950s Jaguar racer while, in the true spirit of co-founder ‘Wilkie’ Wilkinson, making considered improvements. The aerodynamic shape remains, still crafted from thin-gauge aluminium alloy and mounted to a steel spaceframe chassis, but wider and stiffer than before, laser-cut for accuracy. The sonorous Jaguar straight-six XK engine remains too, although capacity has been increased to 4.2 litres and fuel injection fitted to bring power up to 300bhp.
Ecurie Ecosee limited the number of LM-C racing cars to seven (7), mirroring the team’s original seven cars, all of which still exist. Each UK road legal LM-C cost £516,000.
To maintain the authenticity of the LM-C, Ecurie Ecosee contacted CAI to design and supply the SMITHS instrumentation. The CAI team returned to the archives to reference the original drawings and manufacturing instructions for the Jaguar C-Type. The gauges were then updated to incorporate modern digital technology, whilst retaining the classic appearance of the original instruments.
In all, CAI produced five (5) SMITHS gauges:
“The Jaguar C-Type is an all-time classic racing car and having the opportunity to work on this reborn LM-C version was very special,” said Gavin Roberts, CAI’s Managing Director. “The SMITHS brand is synonymous with so many classic cars. Working closely with the team at Ecurie Ecosse, we ensured that these new gauges retain that classic appearance, although with updated mechanics. The finished LM-C car is very special.”
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