Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 670146
Engine No. W1288-7
Body No. F1200
Jaguar co-founder Sir William Lyons conceived of a
limited-production alloy-bodied roadster as a stopgap for the
forthcoming Jaguar Mark VII while showcasing the capabilities of
the 3.4-liter, 160-horsepower "XK" engine. And showcase it did!
Dubbed the XK120 for its claimed 120 mph top speed, the lithe and
sweeping roadster caused a sensation upon its debut at the 1948
London Motor Show in Open Two Seater form. Demand was such that the
initial run of 240 handbuilt, aluminum construction cars were
immediately snapped up, prompting Coventry to re-tool for steel
construction by 1950. Today, the "alloy cars" are coveted not only
for their rarity and important position in Jaguar history, but also
as one of the greatest post-war production sports cars of all
time.
This stunning XK120 Roadster, chassis number 670146 is one of only
184 left-hand drive alloy cars built between 1948 and 1950. A copy
of its Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate confirms its factory
European left-hand-drive specification and records that the car was
completed on 21 February 1950. Although the Birch Grey over Biscuit
and Red duotone leather Roadster is recorded as being ordered
through R.M. Overseas Motors in D�sseldorf, Germany on 14 April
1950, an additional note indicates that the "ex works" chassis
670146 was in fact collected directly from the factory by its
original owner, Colonel T. Hampton of the US Air Force, the
following day on 15 April 1950. The Jaguar's whereabouts over the
next several decades remain undocumented, however, previously
sourced documentation included with the car suggests it was brought
to the United States and remained on the West Coast.
In 1996, the Roadster was acquired by Tom Krefetz of Classic
Showcase in Oceanside, California. The Jaguar joined Krefetz as a
highly original car showing approximately 40,000 miles, making it
an excellent candidate for a frame-off restoration. Everything from
the notoriously challenging fitment of its aluminum body panels to
the restoration of its mechanicals including balancing and
blueprinting the numbers-matching engine and rebuilding the
transmission, suspension, and radiator were all overseen by marque
expert Tarik Tsepina. Renewed in a wonderfully reflective coat of
black paint, the aluminum coachwork was carefully reunited with the
freshly media-blasted chassis and reconstructed wood frame. The
interior was neatly trimmed in the finest "pigskin-grain" leather
hides and the instruments, switches, and steering wheel were
painstakingly restored.
Completed in 1998, the result is one of the most highly decorated
alloy-bodied XK120 Roadsters extant. The exceptional quality of the
restoration was immediately acclaimed by the esteemed judges at the
Jaguar Clubs North America (JCNA) San Diego Concours d'Elegance,
earning a perfect 100-point score for its array of correct details
including red primer paint on the hood prop rod hook, wide
windshield cushion pad, and attached fender lights. Its winning
ways continued under new ownership when it was purchased by Paul
and Jan-Gee McCollam in 2001, taking home an AACA National Senior
Award at Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2001, First in Class at the 2002
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and three JNCA National XK120 Class
2 Championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005. With improvements made
during the McCollam's stewardship, including re-chroming the
brightwork, replating some engine components, and fitting a new
soft top, the Roadster received an astonishing 26 awards in total
over their decade of ownership.
Since entering the Academy of Art Collection in 2011, the Jaguar's
museum quality, award-winning restoration has been beautifully
preserved and it continues to be one of the finest documented and
correctly restored alloy-bodied XK120s anywhere in the world.
Complete with its side curtains, tonneau cover, jack, tool roll,
and Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate, this exquisite Jaguar XK120
is available for the first time in 12 years.