The 1948 Jaguar XK120 debuted at the London Motorshow, stunning spectators with its striking design and exceptional performance. Their first sports car in nearly a decade, the XK line began as a concept car not intended for the general public, but solely as a show car for the new XK-Type engine. The concept caused such enthusiastic demand that Jaguar's founder, William Lyons, pushed the XK120 into production with minimal modification. Named after its top speed of 120 miles per hour, the XK120 was the fasted production car in the world at the time of its release. It quickly began dominating motorsports and production sales alike, causing an upheaval in the sports car market. Priced at $3,940 in the U.S., it rivaled far costlier exotics with a top speed of 120 mph, earning a reputation as one of the fastest production cars of its time.
This particular model, restored to a Silver over Red scheme in 1984 by David Steinman, boasts a prestigious AACA Senior National First Prize and includes features like Lucas driving lights, Dunlop Road Speed tires, toolkit, and a comprehensive instrument panel. Having been meticulously maintained and cherished by a devoted owner since the mid-1970s, this example has shown its allure on both the track and at local enthusiast gatherings. Recent service work includes rebuilding the carburetors, brakes, and replacing cam covers, making this example ready for the driving season ahead.
