General Description
Launched in Roadster form at the 1948 London Motor Show as a testbed and show car for the new Jaguar XK engine, the eruption was such that Jaguar founder and design head, William Lyons, put the XK120 into production.
The "120" in its name referred to its 120 mph top speed which made the XK120 the world's fastest standard production car at the time of its launch. Success in motor racing secured the cars future and an icon was born. Development continued through the 120 with the introduction of the Special Equipment, or SE, in 1951 which boasted an extra 20bhp, meaning the fastest production car of the time now delivered 180bhp, and some handy styling cues to boot. Today, Jaguar XKs, and particularly 120s, remain well sought-after and highly desirable models.
The XK120 became a massive success both on the road and the track, with drivers from the likes of Stirling Moss, Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead, Leslie Johnson and Ian Appleyard. In XK120C/C-type form it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1951 and 1953, while the same type engine went on to power three more Le Sarthe winners and a host of successful Jaguar models over the next half century.
About this specific vehicle
This particular example was delivered to its first owner via Henley’s of Manchester on the 1st of February 1951, finished in Pastel Blue over a Duo Blue interior trim and a French Grey fabric roof. The car changed hands several times in the following circa twenty years until being acquired by Mr David Bowles in response to classified advert placed in Motor Sport magazine in May 1976. Mr. Bowles promptly prepared the Jaguar for a new career in historic rallying, commencing with the first Mille Miglia retrospective event of June 1977. The detailed history file contains his entry pack for the event, in Italian of course and containing schedules and maps, and even a menu for the dinner finale.
The Jaguar went on to participate in, amongst others, the 1979 Del Garda Circuit Race, the 1980 VSCC Pomeroy Memorial and Wiscombe Hill Climb, the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in 1984 and the Norwich Union Classic in 1989. Mr Bowles kept his beloved XK for a further 17 years until 2006 when ownership passed to its next owner, motorsport enthusiasts and locals to Prescott Hill Climb. In preparation for rallying in period the car was fitted with a later 3.8 litre Jaguar motor fed via twin 2-inch SU carburettors.
Having not been restored since the 1970s but well maintained over the years, this lovely original Jaguar has enjoyed regular servicing and minor running repairs as and when required. Notably the car was treated to various recommissioning works in 2022, supported by an invoice for £1,585. The comprehensive history file supplied with the car contains the original buff logbook and more recent registration documents, various correspondence going back to the 1970s, bills for maintenance works and older mechanical rebuilds, and several older MoT certificates.
To prepare the car for sale, Guy Broad Spares, the worlds leading XK specialist, has put the car through their very own workshop for a comprehensive overhaul. Guy Broad himself can be seen talking about the car and works undergone in the video linked in this listing above.
Presented in admittedly a few shades of Willow Green, this charming Jaguar could be driven as is or fully restored as the next owner so wishes and is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately.
