Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Jaguar's first post-war sports car, the XK120 roadster was conceived and designed in a matter of months, primarily to act as a showcase for the marque's new XK engine. Shown at the 1948 Earls Court Motorshow in the dark days of rationing, it caused such a sensation that William Lyons was forced to put it into production right away. 

Arrestingly beautiful, the first cars had handbuilt aluminium bodies on an ash frame, but by 1950 a more mass production version with a pressed steel body with alloy doors, bonnet and boot had been developed. A fixed head version was launched in 1951, followed by a drophead in 1953. Just 12,780 Jaguar XK120s were produced before it was replaced by the larger XK140 in October 1954, most in left-hand drive, of which 7,614 were roadsters.

The chassis was a strong box-section affair with independent torsion-bar front suspension, a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle and hydraulic drum brakes. Power came from the now legendary XK twin-overhead cam 3.4-litre straight-six engine, developing 160bhp and giving the car a genuine 120mph top speed, making it the fastest production car of its day – hence the XK120 name.

In 1952 Stirling Moss and three other drivers famously drove a virtually standard XK120 around the banked track at Montlhery for seven days and nights on end, clocking up an average speed of 100.31mph before driving the car back to London with no problems whatsoever.

As its accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms, this particular left-hand drive roadster was manufactured in September 1950 and was despatched to leading US distributor, Hoffman of New York, on 6th October. The original colour scheme was Gunmetal with a blue interior. Being such an early car (chassis number 814), it has the same chassis as fitted to the first alloy-bodied cars and also has the early studless cylinder head, alloy cooling fan and SU carburettors.

A matching numbers machine that still retains its original engine, gearbox and chassis, it was exported from Alabama to Rotterdam in 1971 where it remained in storage until 2004 when it was repatriated to the UK in a complete but fairly dilapidated state. Over the last 12 months the car has been treated to a total nut-and-bolt rebuild with every single part of the car rebuilt or renewed as necessary.

During the restoration the engine was fully rebuilt with a new crank and new pistons, as was the Moss gearbox. Other work includes all new braking system; new aluminium fuel tank and fuel pump; new wiring loom; rebuilt instruments, dynamo and starter motor; rebuilt radiator and early-type water pump; new stainless steel twin exhausts; new Avon tyres; restored early-type chrome hood frame with new hood and restored sidescreens; retrimmed duo-tone blue leather interior including door cards, dash and carpets; new chromework throughout.

The car is now in outstanding condition throughout and is said to drive beautifully although it will require a careful running-in period for the next 500 miles or so. With an MOT valid until August 2012, it will have been issued with a new age-related number plate prior to the sale and will also have 12 months’ road tax. Altogether a superb and very early example of this iconic model that looks excellent value at the guide price suggested today.