Lot 648: 1953 Jaguar XK120 Coupé

Conceived and constructed in but 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. It was immediately obvious that the slow-to-produce alloy bodywork would have to go, and the car was swiftly re-engineered in steel. The work of Jaguar boss William Lyons himself and one of the most beautiful shapes ever to grace an automobile, the body had been conceived as a coachbuilt aluminium structure for the simple reason that Jaguar expected to sell no more than 200 XK120s in the first year! The car’s heart was, of course, the fabulous XK engine. A 3.4-litre ‘six’ embodying the best of modern design, it boasted twin overhead camshafts running in an aluminium-alloy cylinder head, seven main bearings and a maximum output of 160bhp. The XK120 set new standards of comfort, roadholding and performance for British sports cars and, in keeping with the Jaguar tradition, there was nothing to touch it at the price. Coupé and drophead coupé versions followed, and for customers who found the standard car too slow there was the Special Equipment (SE) package which boosted power to 180bhp. With either engine and regardless of the type of bodywork, the XK120 was a genuine 120mph car capable of sustained high-speed cruising. Finished in black with red leather interior, its original combination as described in the accompanying Heritage build sheet, this matching-numbers XK120 fixed-head Coupé is one of only 193 right-hand drive examples built. Subject of a total ‘body off’ restoration in 1993, it has seen very little use since completion and is presented fresh from re-commissioning, undertaken for the vendor by recognised marque specialists J D Classics, including new wheel bearings, hubs and colour-coded wire wheels. The car is offered with a full photographic record of and invoices relating to the restoration, MoT to June 2007 and Swansea V5 registration document.