Vehicle Description
It was at the 1948 London Motor Show that Jaguar virtually threw the sports car world into turmoil with its stunning XK120. Here was a car with incredible style and looks, a powerful six cylinder engine installed in an outstanding chassis and a remarkably low price, a quarter that of a V12 Ferrari, but with similar performance.
At the heart of the William Lyons styled roadster was that all-new 3,442cc twin overhead camshaft XK engine, producing 160bhp via twin SU carburettors, sufficient for 126mph and 0-60mph in 10 seconds.
The XK120 became a massive success, both on the road and the track, where it scored numerous victories.
The many drivers included Stirling Moss, Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead, Leslie Johnson and lan Appleyard. In XK120C/C-Type form it won Le Mans in both 1951 and "53, while its engine was to power three more Le Sarthe winners and a whole host of successful Jaguar models for the next fifty years.
Rolling off the production line in 1953, chassis 677621, a matching numbers XK120 Drophead Coupe for the export market, was more recently repatriated into the UK and restored in the early 2000s.
Pleasingly the XK is fitted with a number of upgrades, notably the desirable 5 speed gearbox conversion, uprated braking, and an electronic ignition system to improve starting and general running.
Finished in the classic combination of black with a tan interior, this is a delightful example of one of the most beautiful open sports cars of the post-war era.
