LOT 327 ¤

1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster Chassis no. 671497 Engine no. W3566-8 (see text)

Sold for US$54,320 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

Lot 327^¤

1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia Auction|7 October 2019, 13:00 EDT|Philadelphia, Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster
Chassis no. 671497
Engine no. W3566-8 (see text)

3,442cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
2 SU Carburetors
160bhp at 5,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Independent Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Single family ownership since 1978
*Recipient of a 2015 engine rebuild
*Nearly three decades of receipts
*Offered with Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate

THE JAGUAR XK120

"We claimed 120 mph (for the XK120), a speed unheard of for a production car in those days" - William Heynes, Chief Engineer, Jaguar Cars.

Conceived and constructed in just a few months, the XK120 debuted at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show where the stunning-looking roadster caused a sensation, the resulting demand for what was then the world's fastest production car taking Jaguar by surprise.

Its stunning appearance notwithstanding, the XK120 was conventional enough beneath the skin, being built on a separate chassis featuring independent front suspension by means of wishbones and torsion bars, a live rear axle and drum brakes all round. The car's heart was, of course, the fabulous XK engine. Intended for Jaguar's post-war range-topping saloon, the 3.4-liter six embodied the best of modern design, boasting twin overhead camshafts running in an aluminum-alloy cylinder head, seven main bearings and a maximum output of 160bhp. When installed in the lightweight XK120, the result was a car with a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio and blistering performance.

The XK120 set new standards of comfort, handling and performance for sports cars and in keeping with the Jaguar tradition there was nothing to touch it at the price. Coupe and Drophead Coupe versions followed, which provided the opportunity to offer a luxurious interior with copious amounts of wood veneer. Regardless of the type of bodywork, the XK120 was a genuine 120mph car capable of sustained high-speed cruising.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This beautiful XK120 Roadster - or Open Two-Seater as officially called in the day - first roared to life inside Jaguar's Coventry facility on September 6th, 1951. Originally finished in Silver over a Red interior and Fawn convertible top, this left-hand drive Roadster was destined for the Continental European market and was dispatched to Charles Delecrois in Paris, France on the 21st of September.

Remaining in Europe for at least a decade, it appears with a Dr. Carl Brant in the 1970s. Acquired by the family of the consignor in the 1978, it has been in the same collection for the last 41 years. Subject to a frame-up restoration in the late 1970s and completed in the early 1980s, the car has been regularly maintained since then with the most recent work of note being a 2015 engine rebuild. Receipts on file go back to the start of the 1980s, and it should be noted that the original head was found to be cracked and was subsequently replaced with an unstamped unit in August of 2001.

Documented by a large file of receipts and the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, it is now presented in white with red hides and is a lovely machine that would make a fine tour vehicle for its next lucky owner.

Additional information

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