1953 Jaguar XK120 DHC
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Highlights
• Stunning XK120 recently renovated
• Fully restored in the 1990s before more recent work
• Originally supplied to the USA and eligible for re-export
• New paint, wood & interior trim
The Background
When the covers came off the Jaguar XK120 at the Earl’s Court Motor Show in 1948, the Coventry-based manufacturer wasn’t expecting to give birth to a long-lived new breed of sports car.
Influenced by the BMW 328, the new XK120 was seen by Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons as a low volume, limited production styling exercise to show off the company’s styling and technical prowess and to launch its new ‘XK’ 3.4-litre engine, which would go on to power all manner of Jaguars right through until 1990.
The engine was the XK120’s raison d’être and also the purpose behind the car’s name – the suggestion being that the twin overhead cam six-cylinder (an unusually modern configuration in 1948) gave it enough performance to reach 120mph courtesy of its 160bhp.
Indeed, so committed was Jaguar to the model being of limited production that it made the first 200 cars from hand-milled aluminium, underneath which was a sturdy steel chassis frame, independent front suspension by wishbones, longitudinally mounted torsion bars and an anti-roll bar, with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear.
Luckily, that chassis set-up was pretty conventional, meaning that when demand surpassed the initial 200 cars by a ten-fold margin after just a year of production, Jaguar was able to move towards are more conventional (and cheaper) steel construction.
The roadster model was followed by a fixed-head coupe from 1951, and a short-lived drophead coupe was available from 1953. All three variants had split two-piece windscreens, four-speed manual gearboxes and drum brakes, which were considered by many as inadequate for the car’s performance.
The XK120 lasted until 1954, when it was replaced by the outwardly similar XK140 and then XK150 models, which remained in production until the XK-engined E-Type came along in 1961.
The History
According to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate supplied with it, 897 XUB left the Brown’s Lane production line on June 17, 1953, as body number P1443, with engine number W8851-8 – numbers that still match up almost 70 years on.
It was supplied via the famous Hoffman Park Avenue Jaguar dealership in New York, but later made its way to Ohio where it was owned for a long time by an enthusiast called Dave Hart, who drove it around with the registration number ‘GO HART’. He had the car restored in stages, from 1987 through to 1994.
In 1998, the Jaguar was acquired from Mr Hart’s family by an owner in Staffordshire, who had it shipped back to the UK and registered here. He used and enjoyed it for two decades before it was purchased by the current owner, who has spent a small fortune on new paintwork, an interior retrim and an engine and gearbox rebuild.
With another XK in progress along with a couple of recently acquired MG projects to be cracking on with, he’s ready to let this one go to a new home.
The Paperwork
Included in the car’s history file are bills and receipts dating back to 1987, when Dave Hart first started work on the car’s restoration.
The bills and paperwork are split year by year and include, in some cases, a handwritten log of the work carried out on the car. It’s fascinating and really helps build the XK120’s provenance.
Its owners in the UK have kept this up and for each year there’s a folder of receipts documenting expenditure on the Jaguar, right up until the most recent work. There’s a separate folder containing all of its UK MOT certificates, though it is of course now MOT exempt.
In addition to the annualised receipts, there’s a wallet of photos recording the car’s restoration in the USA and a genuine Jaguar workshop operations manual, along with the export paperwork from 1998 when the car arrived in the UK.
The Exterior
Of course, the XK120 is a stunning car. It’s something that it is famous for, and 897 XUB is more stunning than most.
First, it’s in truly delightful condition. It would look perfectly happy on a concours lawn, and you have to look very hard indeed to find any blemishes. There are barely any.
Second, it’s such an iconic colour scheme. The cream paintwork brings to mind Ian Appleyard and Pat Lyons’s famous ‘NUB 120’, which won the RAC Rally, Coupe d’Or and Tulip Rally between 1951 and 1953.
All of which makes you just want it. You do, don’t you? It’s an absolute stunner. The quality of the restoration work and recent paint is superb, too.
The hood is also in good order, not that you’d ever want to use it. Though the XK120 is one of those cars that looks just as good with the roof up as it does with it down.
The Interior
In the past year, the XK120 has had a complete interior retrim, with new leather seat facings in the original red colour scheme. The walnut veneers on the doors have also been refinished to match the excellent varnished dashboard.
One of the car’s most charming features is its original black metal steering wheel, as owners over the years have resisted the cliché of fitting a wooden three-spoke sports wheel. Instead, it has a four-spoke steering wheel and the original plastic central boss with Jaguar ‘growler’ logo. There’s some wear to the wheel, but that in itself gives it a glorious patina and it really is one of the car’s most endearing features. That and the anti-clockwise rev counter, which works as it should.
The Mechanics
As part of its recent overhaul, the vendor has had the engine taken out, stripped and checked over, along with a transmission strip-down and rebuild.
It starts easily, holds good oil pressure and has a steady idle.
The seller says that it drives exactly as it should do and feels very lively, with good performance.
Don’t expect too much from the brakes, though. It’s 100% original down to the drums all round, which require a modicum of forward planning. It’s all part of the fun of ownership…
The Appeal
This is one of the all-time best British classic cars. A near-perfect example of the seminal Jaguar sports car in breath-taking condition, and in a wonderful colour scheme. It’s the original colour scheme, too, as backed up by the Heritage Certificate.
It’s a true collectors’ piece and in left-hand-drive configuration it can travel anywhere in the world to meet its next owner, who is set to become one very, very lucky individual and the owner of an extremely special car.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the sellers discretion.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1953
- Make Jaguar
- Model XK120
- Colour Cream
- Odometer 100,620 Miles
- Engine size 3500
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Location Suffolk
- Country United Kingdom
22
bids
- Pe•••• £73,000 19/07/21
- Pe•••• £70,000 19/07/21
- xi•••• £65,000 18/07/21
- mo•••• £62,000 18/07/21
- ta•••• £61,000 18/07/21
- xi•••• £60,000 16/07/21
- mo•••• £57,500 16/07/21
- Zi•••• £56,000 15/07/21
- mo•••• £55,000 15/07/21
- Zi•••• £53,000 13/07/21
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