Initially known as the XK120C (C for competition), the C-Type debuted at Le Mans in 1951 with a team of factory-sponsored cars. While two of the three entries were forced to retire early with oil line issues, the car driven by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead took the overall victory—the first British car to win Le Mans in nearly 20 years. In 1953, C-Types won again, and also placed second and fourth. The cars used the XK 120 running gear in a lightweight tubular frame designed by Jaguar Chief Engineer William Heynes with an aerodynamic aluminium body. A total of 53 C-Types were built, 10 of which were used by the factory racing team, making them incredibily rare to find.