Many beautiful race cars have been designed and built in the last sixty years, their shapes answering to performance and aerodynamic needs rather than marketing demands: Thus no showroom compromises. I defy anyone to deny that the most beautiful of all was the C-Type Jaguar, bearing in mind the era in which it was created and its success at LeMans.

But now consider XKC-007, one of just 53 built and one of the first Jaguar C-Types delivered to the United States. It was immediately delivered to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, making Jaguar history when Phil Hill drove it to victory in The Sheldon Cup. With Hill back behind the wheel, XKC-007 went on to achieve success at Torrey Pines that same year.

XKC-007 has passed through the hands of numerous owners. Restored by Jaguar expert Terry Larson, in 1993 it entered the collection of Jerry and Kathy Nell where it has remained until now. The historic race car will be offered at the RM Auctions Sports & Classics of Monterey event, August 13-15 in Monterey, California. It displays the signature of the great Phil Hill, one of only two Americans to become F1 world champion, and retains its original numbers-matching engine.

I can't speak for the wealthy patrons who might purchase this car but whoever makes high bid, I hope they'll display it where we lesser folk can look on admiringly. Better still, they'll enter it in vintage races where we can watch this fabulous Jaguar being driven at speed. The late Phil Hill wouldn't have it any other way.