1952 Jaguar XK120 Fast Road Car

• This 1952 Roadster was imported from Southern California just two years ago. Since been through a complete restoration, fully documented with photographs
• Converted to right-hand drive, brand new steering-box components and original right-hand drive controls
• Upgrades include disc brakes, front and rear, a new servo and a bespoke Aluminium radiator
• More powerful 3.4-litre XK150 engine fitted, now fully rebuilt
• Bias towards the racing heritage with the addition of a Le Mans fuel filler, leather bonnet strap, period spotlights and the deletion of the front bumper blades
• Completely new interior, in red with leather-trimmed bucket seats
• "The engine pulls strongly, is silky smooth with no flat-spots, and starts on the button every time whether hot or cold."
• Fabulous restoration of a Jaguar Classic that bears a striking resemblance to NUB 120, the world's most famous XK Jaguar

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. Conceived during the war, the new six-cylinder was created by Jaguar’s chief engineer Bill Heynes and engine wizard Harry Weslake. As the firm tested various designs (labelled X for experimental and tagged G, H or J), it was a compact twin-cam four labelled ‘K’ that stood out. With two more cylinders added taking it to 3.4 litres, it became the engine that would power generations of sporting Jaguars for several decades starting with the XK120

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, 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.

However, the most famous XK120 is undoubtedly Ian Appleyard's legendary 'NUB 120'. He was a director of the family car dealership, Appleyards of Leeds, and a talented rally driver. Using his alloy-bodied, privately-entered 120 and accompanied by his wife, Pat Lyons, daughter of Jaguar founder William Lyons, they enjoyed great results at International level in the Tulip Rally, RAC and Monte Carlo, however, it was their success in the Alpine Rally, finishing unpenalised three times in a row from 1950 to 1952, and becoming the first driver to win the coveted Coupe d’Or (Gold Cup), that’s most feted. Jaguar, of course, missed no opportunity to market the XK120’s success everywhere, Pathé newsreels, Sunday papers, billboards, the sides of London buses “The fastest Production Sports Car in the World”, motoring magazines, simply everywhere in the English-speaking world. With its catchy registration number, NUB 120, became a household name and is probably the most promoted individual Jaguar in the world. It still resides within the Jaguar Heritage Collection and is brought out a dozen times a year.

Anyone looking at the striking XK120 Roadster on offer here can’t fail to notice the similarity to NUB 120 which, according to our vendor, the car's creator, is not entirely a coincidence.

In his own words:

"This 1952 Roadster was imported from the US just 2 years ago. It’s a Southern Californian car so was amazingly rust-free and proved a perfect candidate for refurbishment. It has since been through a complete restoration from end to end, fully documented with photographs taken every step of the way. It was converted to RHD using brand new steering-box components and a complete set of original RHD pedal controls. Along the way, there have been a few upgrades incorporated to help with safety and overall efficiency. Disc brakes have been installed front and rear utilising brand new components from Zeus Engineering along with a new servo system and a bespoke Aluminium radiator has been fitted and adapted for the engine which is now a fully rebuilt 3.4-litre unit from a later, more powerful XK150. The electrics have been upgraded utilising an original factory loom modified with additional relays and fuses, plus switches for the spot lights, indicators and manual control of the starting carburettor. An alternator has also been fitted allowing the rectifier to be deleted. A custom throttle-linkage has been created which allows for different pedal travel and provides much improved throttle response compared to the original rod-operated system. Finally, a unique custom twin exhaust system has been built which follows the later XK140/150 design but still retains the ‘look’ of a 120 at the rear with factory-looking twin pipes.

Throughout the restoration process, there has been a bias towards the racing heritage of these Jaguars with the addition of a Le Mans fuel filler cap, a leather bonnet strap, period spotlights and the deletion of the front bumper blades. (The original bumpers and mounting irons will come with the car). As part of the completely new interior, leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added which provide some additional leg-room for taller drivers.

The car is supplied with its original factory hood, but this will need trimming if it is to be used. It was never planned to be used as part of the rebuild, however a brand-new custom made tonneau cover comes with the car.

This car drives like you would expect a brand new restoration should do. The engine pulls strongly, is silky smooth with no flat-spots, and starts on the button every time whether hot or cold."

NXS 110, in common with NUB 120, is finished in what the factory called 'Old English White' which is Cream really. The interior is superbly trimmed in red and appears to be immaculate and the engine bay is of a 'Concours' standard. It was not our vendor's intention to try and replicate NUB 120, or build a rally car, or a totally original 120, rather, the idea was to create a fastidiously restored, totally usable, sensibly upgraded and smartly presented example of one of the best looking Jaguars of all time. We feel he has been totally successful, however, we urge interested parties to make an appointment to view the car and form their own opinion.

Further information about the Jaguar's build-spec is available from our consignor. Professional images to follow.