NEW PRICE! Stunning restoration by Jaguar experts Couper's Classic Cars. Supercharged 3.8 liter engine, otherwise stock, making for a very fast, very beautiful, and very well-sorted OTS. Show-quality throughout. Exceptional!
We have restoration photos that show this car coming together from start to finish, and no stone was left unturned. The car was stripped to bare metal and rebuilt from there and the exacting gaps, beautiful, smooth panels, and spectacular Signal Red paint all reflect a spare-no-expense restoration to the very highest standards. Note how well the hood fits, the way the vents ahead of the doors sit flush, and the way the trunk lid extends to the edges of the body, but no further. Everything is quite correctly done and likely better than new. All the chrome was restored, including the bumpers, grille, and windshield frame, and it carries a correct set of Lucas tri-bar headlights and accessory driving lights up front.
The interior was equally well restored using correct materials and patterns throughout. That's glove-soft Connolley leather from Bartlett's and plush Wilton wool carpets are on the floor. The big steering wheel provides plenty of leverage on the front wheels, so guiding this XK takes only your fingertips, and the lovely horn button remains in place, always upright, even when you're turning the wheel. The handsome Smiths gauges are fully operational and crisply restored, including the reverse-rotation tachometer and multi-function gas and oil level gauge that notes "Use switch for oil reading." Lights, horn, turn signals, and heater are all fully operational and we're willing to believe that the 46,412 miles shown are since 1953. The delicate little shifter for the 4-speed manual transmission snaps through the gears, although you don't want to rush it when it's cold or else you'll get a little gear clash. Seat belts, floor mats, and a fire extinguisher have been added in the name of safety and for touring comfort, this car includes both a black canvas convertible top and a matching tonneau cover for the cockpit. The boot (trunk) is outfitted correctly with a correct spare tire, tool roll, knock-off hammer, jack assembly, and even the original tire pump.
The chassis number starting with the letter "S" indicates that this car was originally a "Special Eqiupment" or "SE" car, and it does indeed carry its original matching-numbers cylinder head. However, to handle the rigors of the supercharger, a later 3.8 liter block and rotating assembly were used. The engine was, of course, fully rebuilt. The show-quality engine bay is a symphony of polished aluminum and black enamel, and the fittings used throughout are quite correct, from the twin SU carburetors to the radiator hoses to the fresh cloth-wrapped wiring harness. It has very little use on it since it was completed, as evidenced by the beautiful porcelainized exhaust manifolds that show zero cracking or cloudiness that are the inevitable by-product of heat. The supercharger itself is identical to those that the Granatelli Brothers created for these Jaguars when they were new, a shaft-driven unit that inhales through the original carburetors and exhales through a gorgeous polished aluminum casting bolted to the block. It produces perhaps 5 pounds of boost, not a lot, but enough to create an incredible torque curve that totally transforms the XK120's personality.
Driving it is no different than any other Jaguar. It's content to idle at about 900 RPM with a pleasing mechanical sound and it's worth noting that the blower is completely silent, so you won't be giving anything away. Throttle response is crisp and at low speeds, the car is perfectly happy to idle in third or fourth gear without bucking. However, when you lean on it a bit, you'll feel that inevitable swell of torque at about 2500 RPM and hear a gentle wooshing sound from up front, and suddenly the XK120 is ratcheting the speedometer needle around the gauge face in 10 MPH increments. We would estimate about 330 horsepower on tap, all of them very civilized, and giving this lovely Jag the performance to startle a lot of newer, more powerful hardware. It's extraordinary.
Fortunately, the chassis doesn't seem to mind the added performance one bit. It feels supple but buttoned-down, the way only Jaguar engineers seem to have mastered, and there's not a single squeak, rattle, or shake from the chassis or body structure, making this car feel expensive but not fragile. The original 4-speed 'JL' gearbox is connected via a fresh clutch and original carbon bearing, so be sure to start it in neutral with your foot off the clutch—it spins faster. The frame was stripped bare and refinished using tough satin black paint for a correct look and both the suspension and the brakes were fully rebuilt, so you can drive it with confidence. A custom dual exhaust system was fabricated in stainless steel and has a fantastic note from the twin pipes out back, especially when under boost at, say, 3500-4000 RPM. You've never heard anything like it. Some strategic heat shielding keeps the interior nice and comfortable on warm days. Sparkling chrome wire wheels are really the only choice on an XK120 like this, and they carry recent 6.00-16 wide whitewall tires for a period-correct look.
This is a spectacular car in every way. If you are a driver, a true enthusiast in the strictest sense of the word, then you will no doubt appreciate the way this car drives more than any other aspect of ownership. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
