Vehicle Description
This important XK120 competition roadster was originally owned and
raced by the late Mike Salmon, one of the most prolific sports car
drivers of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Constructed in 1953 this special equipment XK120 was one of only 27
cars finished in the rare colour scheme of Lavender Grey paint with
Biscuit and Red interior and was purchased directly off the
production line as a 21st birthday present for Michael ("Mike")
Salmon. Mike's parents were Jersey-based and so the car was
originally registered J14974 although this was subsequently changed
to PCR379 in 1955 when Mike was working on the mainland as an
apprentice with Jaguar. Having been fortunate enough to acquire one
of the most desirable sports car of the time, Mike began his
competition career with an appearance at an Edinburgh University
Motor Club driving test meeting at Drem Airfield in February of
1954. It was not a particularly successful debut, with�Mike
slithering all over the snow-covered course, but it marked the
start of a career that would last until 2008 and include no-less
than 13 starts at Le Mans and numerous podium finishes at
International level races. Interestingly another young driver was
also making one of his first appearances that day, a certain Jim
Clark. As 1954 progressed Mike started to realise his potential
with competent ascents of Rest-and-be thankful and a class win at
Bo'ness in June, a result he repeated in September. Having cut his
teeth on hill climbs, in 1955 Mike moved on to circuit racing and
he secured a highly creditable second place at Crimond in May,
coming just behind Jock Lawrence in a C-Type. Unlike many drivers
of his time, Mike was in the very fortunate position of working
directly for Jaguar and so received support from the works
including invaluable advice and access to spares and performance
upgrades from the service department. It was at this time that Mike
fitted a close ratio gearbox, larger carburettors, headlight air
duct and metal tonneau, in addition to the aero screens and mirror
cowl he had previously acquired. These upgrades, along with Mike's
natural ability, clearly paid off with a number of successes
against increasingly challenging opposition and by 1956 the car was
very fast indeed, as evidenced by the 134 mph that Norman Dewis
achieved in it at MIRA. Throughout 1956 Mike successfully raced
PCR379 at the UK's top circuits including Goodwood, Aintree, Oulton
Park, Mallory Park and Silverstone as well as continuing to run the
car in the British Hill Climb Championship. By the end of the 1956
season, however, it was clear that Mike was destined for greater
things and early in 1957 he purchased one of the ex-works C-Types,
but only after his mother had secretly checked with Norman Dewis
that he was capable of handling the XK120s more exotic cousin.
Following Mike's sale, the next owner of PCR379 was a Mr George
Hilditch, a businessman from Coventry who also hill climbed the
car, at Mancetter, and used it for touring throughout the UK. Over
the next twenty years or so the XK passed through a number of
different hands before being acquired in the late 1970s by a
solicitor who decided to fit an original experimental works engine
(to D-Type specification). At this time the car was restored and
finished in old English White with red interior and by now sported
weber carburettors and stone guards to the headlights a la NUB120.
It was in this condition that the car was acquired by JD Classics
in 2014 and, although remaining generally solid, was starting to
look tired and so underwent an extensive chassis off restoration
with full JD race preparation. �Remarkably just prior to its
acquisition by JD Classics the original�factory engine block was
located in the workshop where it had lain since the late 1970s.
This original block was retrieved and has been reunited with the
car.
With the restoration just completed, the car is now finished in the
correct Lavender Grey paint and is ready to resume its competition
career. As such it offers a very rare opportunity to acquire a
historically important XK120 with links to a famous racing driver
and which is eligible for all major historic events, including the
Goodwood Revival and Mille Miglia. It comes accompanied by an
extensive history file including many period photos and items of
correspondence.
UNDER OFFER � � � � � � � �
Race History:
1954
February
Location: Drem Airfield, Edinburgh University Motor Club
Race: Driving Tests
Driver: M Salmon (Jim Clark in attendance)
�
26th June
Location: Bo'ness,
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 1st in class Car 47
�
11th September
Location: Bo'ness,
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 1st in class Car 50
�
Location: Rest-and-be-thankful
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
�
1955
14th May
Track: Crimond
Race: Aberdeen DMC
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 2nd (behind Jock Lawrence)
�
June
Location: Brunton
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Car 66
�
July
Location: Firle
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
�
1956
17th March
Track: Goodwood
Race: BARC Members Meeting
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 9th Car 53
�
9th June
Track: Oulton Park
Race: Autosport Trophy, round 2
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 4th
�
16th June
Track: Aintree
Race: Autosport Trophy, 100 mile race
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 3rd (behind John Dalton and Ken Rudd) Car 83
�
21st July
Track: Silverstone
Race: AMOC 6 Hour Relay Handicap, AMOC National Race
Driver: M Salmon
Car 4a, Car 147
�
25th August
Location: Shelsley Walsh
Race: MAC Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Car 110
�
9th September
Location: Brighton
Race: Speed Trials
Driver: M Salmon
�
16th September
Track: Mallory Park
Race: Notts Sports Car Club
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 3rd Car 74
�
22nd September
Track: Oulton Park
Race: Autosport Trophy, 3 hr race
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 3rd Car 7
�
29th September
Track: Silverstone
Race: BRSCC
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 2nd (behind David Shale) Car 50
�
1957
Location: Mancetter Quarry
Race: Coventry and Warwickshire Motor Club Hill Climb
Driver: G Hilditch
