Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 670810
Engine No. W1785-8
Body No. F2036
Transmission No. JH4337
The Jaguar XK120, manufactured by Jaguar from 1948 to 1954, is a
celebrated post-war sports car that redefined performance and
style. Initially unveiled as a roadster at the 1948 London Motor
Show, it showcased Jaguar's innovative XK engine, designed by Chief
Engineer William Heynes. The prototype, chassis number 660001, was
strikingly similar to the production models, with minor differences
in the windscreen design.
The XK120's impressive performance at the Ostend-Jabbeke motorway
in Belgium on 30 May 1949, where it achieved an average speed of
132.6 miles per hour, convinced Jaguar's founder, William Lyons, to
put it into production. The car's achievements continued with over
100 mph for 24 hours and over 130 mph for an hour at the Autodrome
de Linas-Montlhery in France, solidifying its reputation as a
high-performance sports car.
This particular XK120, awarded The Gil Nickel/Far Niente Award for
restoration excellence at the 2024 Amelia Concours d'Elegance,
stands out due to its thorough restoration and authenticity. It
features its matching numbers chassis, engine, transmission, and
body corresponding to those on its Jaguar Daimler Trust
Certificate. Finished in period-correct Battleship Gray with a Red
leather interior, it includes a correct "short" type folding soft
top, side curtains, and a tonneau cover.
An original left-hand drive model, it was sold new through Hoffman
Motors of New York City on 10 January 1951. The car is equipped
with factory steel wheels and hub caps, rear fender "spats," chrome
bumpers, a split windshield, a four-spoke steering wheel, and
leather dashboard trim. The front suspension includes torsion bars
and shock absorbers, while the rear features a live axle with
semi-elliptical leaf springs and shock absorbers.
As a result of its stellar restoration, this 1951 Jaguar XK120
Roadster is an excellent example of perhaps the most elegant Jaguar
model ever created. Complete with its tool kit, tire inflator,
jack, two reproduction batteries, operating, maintenance, and
service handbook, along with workshop service manuals, this car is
eager to continue competing at judged concours events, or to be
enjoyed for its performance that made it so desirable when new.
