Jaguar C-type - The autobiography of XKC 051 (Limited Edition)

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The fascinating story of this icon of classic motoring, beautifully told by award-winning authors Chas Parker and Philip Porter, has already won plaudits from readers, being described by Motorsport Magazine as ‘generously illustrated, comprehensively researched and pleasingly decorated with race programmes, letters and receipts’.

The car went on to have a busy post-works racing career, first with Ecurie Ecosse, then with privateer drivers Bill Smith and Geoffrey Allison. Among its small number of collector custodians in later years, the names of Briggs Cunningham and Adrian Hamilton (son of Duncan) stand out. All this is covered in fascinating detail, supported by a fine collection of period photographs. Any Jaguar enthusiast will love this book.

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Limited Edition

Limited to only 100 copies and signed by the authors, Chas Parker and Philip Porter, and Adrian Hamilton, son of Duncan, whose memories enliven much of the book.

The Author

Chas Parker swapped a career in astronomy, where he was Press Officer for the Royal Greenwich Observatory, for one writing about motor sport. Along the way he edited a computer magazine for Hewlett-Packard business users and provided copywriting services to companies such as Air Miles, Elf Oil and South East Water. He also contributed to Patrick Moore’s ‘Yearbook of Astronomy’ and the ‘Philip’s Astronomy Encyclopedia’.

For a time he was motoring correspondent for ‘Sussex Life’ magazine and then worked for seven years as a sub-editor on ‘Motorsport News’, for which he still contributes race reports, particularly on the Goodwood Revival and Members’ Meetings, along with occasional articles for publications such as ‘Autosport’ and ‘Motor Sport’. He is the author of five books, including comprehensive histories of Brands Hatch and Silverstone, both published by Haynes. He lives in East Sussex with his partner Diane and has two sons, Jon and Will.

Philip Porter is the author of around 30 motoring books. In an action-packed life, he started competing in hillclimbs and sprints while still at school, winning 10 of his 12 events in 1970 in his full-race Sprite. Bitten by the classic car bug, he bought five Jaguar XKs in 1973 (four of which he still has) and his historic E-types (9600 HP, the oldest E-type which was the development, launch, press car, and 848 CRY, the '61 racer and roadster in the film The Italian Job) in 1976. He began writing articles and books in the mid-'80s. In parallel he began flying hot air balloons and airships competitively (European Airship Championships Silver Medallist) and was the first person ever to fly an airship in Africa. He has twice been Chairman of the Sherlock Holmes Society and in 1997 he and his wife Julie formed the International Jaguar XK Club, the Jaguar E-type Club following in 2004. In 2005, he created Porter Press International, which is now one of the world's leading motoring publishers thanks to the amazing team with which Philip is immensely proud to work.

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