Tecnomodel 1:18 1953-1954 Jaguar C-Type diecast model car review

Tecnomodel recently announced no less than five 1:18 replicas of the iconic Jaguar C-Type.

Over the course of its three years of production, there were three variants of the C-Type, with the final variant created for the 1953 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The cars were fitted with three twin-choke carburettors. Their bodies were built of very thin alloy sheet metal, and to save weight an aircraft-style rubber fuel tank was fitted. For the first time on a race car, disc brakes were utilised. The rear axle was strengthened, whilst the front axle got a more robust anti-roll bar. These additions worked because, that year, the C-Types came home in first, second and fourth position.

Of course, one of the subjects that Tecnomodel will be replicating in 1:18 is the 1953 Le Mans winner, which is the #18 machine that was driven by Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton. The Italian model manufacturer is also producing the yellow Ecurie Francorchamps-entered car from that race, Roger Laurent and Charles de Tornaco reaching the finish in ninth position.

We expect Jimmy Stewart’s winning example from the 1954 BARC sportscar race at Goodwood to be particularly popular amongst collectors. (Jimmy was actually Jackie’s elder brother). The car was run by Ecurie Ecosse, which had acquired the C-Type lightweight racers from the works team, and had them painted in the Scottish outfit’s distinctive Flag Metallic Blue.

The final racing variant is the white machine from the 1953 and 1954 runnings of the arduous Carrera Panamericana road race. Francisco Ibarra drove the car solo in the 1953 edition of the event (with the machine running as #18), but engine failure meant that he did not finish. Ibarra then partnered up with Fernando Pinal the following year, with an oil leak being the reason for the car's retirement on this occasion. The fifth and final version that Tecnomodel will be producing is a press car in plain British Racing Green.

Click Cult 1:18 1953-1954 Jaguar C-Type to order.