Vehicle Description
At the 1948 London Motor Show, Jaguar unveiled their first postwar
sports car to astonished onlookers. The spectacular new XK120
redefined the whole notion of sports cars in the post-war era,
combining race car performance in a stunningly beautiful and
production-ready package. Initially, the concept was intended
merely as a testbed for Jaguar's newest engine, the 3.4-liter "XK"
inline-six, yet the positive reception quickly convinced William
Lyons to put it into production. The technically advanced engine
featured a sturdy iron block topped with an alloy, twin overhead
camshaft cylinder head, making 160 horsepower in standard form.
With such exotic specifications, it would have been understandable
if Jaguar chose to build the car in limited numbers. However,
engineers adopted new techniques allowing them to mass-produce the
exotic twin-cam engine, which allowed the XK120 to be considerably
cheaper than its performance rivals. Supporting the powertrain was
a robust chassis with independent front suspension, based loosely
on the MkV saloon but substantially narrowed and tuned for
handling. The real sensation was the gorgeous body, penned in-house
at Jaguar, and quite unlike anything else on the road at the time.
Devoid of fussy chrome trim and unnecessary frills, the XK120 body
was curvaceous and beautifully proportioned. The clean lines were
uninterrupted, particularly on cars with steel wheels and full
spats on the rear fenders. More than just a pretty face, the XK120
delivered extraordinary performance for the period. The RAC
officially timed a mostly standard XK120 (with a small aero screen
and tall gear ratio) at 132.6 miles per hour on the Ostend-Jabbeke
motorway in Belgium. Other speed records followed, as did countless
victories on race circuits and in rallies in Europe and the USA.
The XK120 paved the way for the Le Mans-winning C-Type and set the
foundation for Jaguar's astounding string of motorsport victories
Jaguar enjoyed throughout the 1950s. Today, the Jaguar XK120 is a
cornerstone collector car with passionate owners ranging from the
grassroots to the seasoned, world-class collector. Over seventy
years since it was first shocked the world with its dramatic
unveiling, the XK120 continues to thrill with its timeless beauty
and electrifying performance. This charming XK120 is a desirable
Open Two-Seat roadster and comes to us fresh from long-term
ownership. Finished in British Racing Green with a tan leather
interior, it has a black cloth convertible top, rear wheel spats,
body color steel wheels with hubcaps and trim rings. The car was
comprehensively and correctly restored in the late 1990s to a very
high standard, and is a matching numbers car according to the
included Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate. In the years
since the restoration was completed, this car has benefitted from
light and careful use, as well as extensive maintenance to ensure
it is in top running order. The body exhibits excellent panel gaps
and fit, and the paint work remains in fine order, revealing the
quality of the original restoration as well as the care it has
received since. The brightwork also presents very well overall,
however the front bumpers show a little mellowing from age. The
original, numbers-matching 3.4-liter, 160 horsepower twin-cam "XK"
inline six rests under the hood. It is of course clean, tidy, and
well detailed, showing signs of regular maintenance. It runs very
well, breathing through original twin S.U. carburetors. The
four-speed manual gearbox feels tight and precise as it should, and
the road manners are quite good. As one of the most iconic and
beautiful British sports cars of all time, the XK120 is a perennial
favorite among car collectors and enthusiasts. With its body-color
disc wheels, full rear spats, and delicate chrome bumpers, this is
the XK in its purest form and is a superb choice for taking
advantage of a multitude of historic driving events and road
rallies around the world. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7664-1951-jaguar-xk120-roadster/
