Jaguar C-Type news - Pebble Beach’s perfect C - 2009

See more Jag C-Type racer pics

If the new Jaguar XJ isn’t floating your boat – though, judging from your comments, it’s doing the trick for most of you – what about a Jag from the old school?

How about a 1952 C-Type racer driven to victory by Phil Hill, up for auction next month at the swanky Pebble Beach meet in California?

Just 52 C-Type racers were built between 1951 and 1953, and this mintier-than-mint example was shipped to the US, winning several races in the hands of American F1 world champion Phil Hill.

Loosely based on the XK120 road car – though weighing in a full 450kg lighter – the C-Type is powered by a straight-six which puts out around 205bhp in its 1950s prime.

The C-Type won Le Mans in 1951 and 1953, doing battle with the Mercedes 300SL and making history with its second victory as the first car to average over 100mph.

This shining example was never crashed, and bears the venerable Mr Hill's signature. Price? No word what the C-Type will go for, but we’d expect it to start with a large number, feature several large numbers in the middle and probably end with a few more, er, large numbers. Start saving...