1951 Jaguar XK120 Coupé

A car-starved Britain, still trundling around in perpendicular pre-war hangover vehicles, glimpsed the future in October 1948 with the launch of the Jaguar XK120 at the Earls Court Motor Show. Production commenced in 1949 in Coventry, and the XK's swoopy shape and stylish occupants would become a common sight on British roads over the next 15 years. It heralded the arrival of Jaguar's famous 3.4-litre twin overhead camshaft XK engine, (the basis of all their engines for the next 25 years) with an alloy cylinder head and twin side-draught SU carburettors producing nearly 160bhp. The 120 referred to the car's top speed which, at the time, made it the fastest production car in the world. Jaguar seems to have always had a flair for marketing and to illustrate that the car's top speed was not a figment of a publicist's imagination as in May 1949, on the Jabbeke to Aeltre autoroute, an XK120 with its hood and side screens in place recorded a speed of 126mph, and no less than 132mph with the hood and windscreen detached and an undertray fitted. The car was in almost instant demand and went on to spawn the famous XK lineage of fast and elegant sports cars.

This splendid XK120 was delivered new to Hoffman, New York on 4th September 1951. It turned heads in the US for many years before returning to the UK in July 2004 looking very tired and in need of restoration. Renowned Jaguar restorers, Beacon Garage in Doncaster, inherited that particular task and a comprehensive last nut and bolt rebuild was completed in 2012. The car was converted to right-hand drive, fitted with a C-Type cylinder head, upgraded leather bucket seats and chrome wire wheels - there are receipts on file totalling £80,000 from this period and viewing of the extensive file is highly recommend. Inspected by the Jaguar Drivers Club at the time who confirmed it was faultless, other than some light pitting of the chrome on one rear light. They valued it at £125,000 at that time.

XDN 36 was purchased by our vendor, a serious motoring connoisseur, in December 2018 and, in his care, the XK has been well-maintained and lightly but regularly used. It's been enjoyed on various Bowcliffe Drivers Club events and placed second in one of their Concours d'Elegance events. It has covered less than 2,500 miles since the restoration with the only major expense being a set of new Pirelli Cinturatos. On our recent inspection, the car remains near faultless, it really does present well, with a small nick on the drivers bucket seat bolster the only obvious fault.

Ready to be enjoyed, be that out on the open road or gracing the club circuit, with all that has to offer, this impressive XK120 warrants your early inspection to fully appreciate this rare and desirable drivers Jaguar.