Chassis 675191
- Matching-numbers 3.4-liter XK engine
- Documented Jaguar Heritage history with long-term Connecticut
ownership
- Recently fitted tan leather interior
- Attractive red-over-tan presentation with disc wheels, rear
spats, and luggage rack
Few sports cars define the postwar era quite like the Jaguar XK120.
Introduced in 1948 as a showcase for Jaguar's new twin-cam XK
engine, it quickly became a sensation in its own right, combining
graceful styling, strong performance, and remarkable value. Its
success on the road and in competition helped establish Jaguar as
one of the dominant sports-car manufacturers of the period.
At the heart of the XK120 was Jaguar's now-famous 3.4-liter DOHC
inline-six, paired with independent front suspension and a
well-balanced chassis that gave the car performance to match its
dramatic appearance. In Open Two Seater form, with its low
windshield, sweeping fenders, removable side curtains, disc wheels,
and neatly fitted rear spats, the XK120 presented one of the purest
and most enduring expressions of Jaguar design.
This 1954 Jaguar XK120 Open Two Seater, chassis number 675191, is a
U.S.-market example originally distributed through Max Hoffman's
influential New York agency. According to Jaguar Heritage records,
it was dispatched on March 12, 1954 and delivered to its first
owner, R. Bell of Coventry, Connecticut, on March 29. It left the
factory finished in the understated combination of Dove Grey with a
French Grey top and tan interior.
The Jaguar would later remain closely associated with Connecticut.
By the late 2000s it was owned by Dorothy Bronson of New Canaan,
and although the precise length of the earlier ownership periods is
not presently known, there is no indication that the car changed
hands frequently or appeared regularly on the public market. At
some point prior to this period, it was refurbished and refinished
in the more sporting red-over-tan color scheme it wears today.
Acquired by its previous long-term owner in 2008, the XK120 covered
just over 2,000 miles during the following fourteen years. Service
and maintenance during that period included work by Blackhorse
Garage and Automotive Restorations, both well known within the
collector-car community. In 2022 the now aged restoration on the
Jaguar began to show, but fortunately it was acquired by its most
recent owner, a dedicated steward of the marque.
Since that time, the Jaguar has benefited from a number of welcome
improvements. The exterior has been thoroughly detailed, the
brightwork remains in very good condition, and the paintwork, while
older, still retains a sharp and charming look, with the expected
minor imperfections. It retains the desirable disc-wheel and
rear-spat configuration, fitted with period-correct bias play wide
whitewall tires, giving the car the clean and pure appearance early
XK120's are known for. The interior has been renewed in tan leather
with tan carpets, and the car is fitted with a tan Haartz cloth
top. A rear luggage rack has additionally been fitted, adding a
useful and period-appropriate touch for touring.
Importantly, the Jaguar retains its matching-numbers engine, a
desirable feature for an XK120 of this age and one that reinforces
the underlying integrity of the car. The engine compartment is
nicely detailed, and an aluminum radiator has been installed, a
very desirable upgrade.
With its matching-numbers engine, documented Jaguar Heritage
history, attractive Open Two Seater coachwork, and recent cosmetic
improvements, this XK120 offers all of the essential ingredients
that continue to make these cars so enduringly desirable. Handsome,
mechanically straightforward, and presented at a level that
encourages regular use, it is an ideal candidate for tours, club
events, and spirited weekend motoring.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
