Lot 046: 1952 JAGUAR XK120 FIXED HEAD COUPE

Introduced in 1951, the Fixed Head Coupe variant brought a welcome dose of luxury to the XK120 range. As well as the obvious benefits of better weather protection and noise insulation, it also gained a wood veneer dashboard / door cappings and vanity cabin lights. Some £90 more expensive than its roadster sibling, it was mechanically identical sharing the same box-section chassis equipped with independent front suspension, a 'live' rear axle and drum brakes. A testimony to the 3442cc DOHC straight-six engine's torque delivery, contemporary road testers struggled to differentiate between the open and closed XK120s in performance terms (some even crediting the latter with better acceleration despite its greater weight). Another coup de grace for Sir William Lyons' styling talents, the Fixed Head Coupe's roofline was beautifully resolved. A scarce sight on UK roads, the vast majority of the 2,680 reputedly made went abroad (various sources giving an export- to home-market split of 2,528 vs. 152). Finished in British Racing Green with mid-brown leather upholstery, this particular left-hand drive example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (interior trim, paintwork), "very good" (electrical equipment, chassis, bodywork, wheels / tyres) or "excellent" (engine, four-speed manual gearbox) condition. Apparently resident in Holland for many years before being extensively restored during the late 1980s, chassis 681074 is understood to have since been used on various historic rallies and events. Reportedly gaining some welcome extra horsepower as part of an engine overhaul carried out roughly ten years ago, the XK120 also boasts an electric fan and brake booster. Said to be "on the button and ready to go", this attractively liveried Jaguar rides on new powder coated wire wheels. PLEASE NOTE: THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR THIS LOT CARRIES A 7E PREFIX, INDICATING THAT IT HAS COME FROM AN E TYPE 4.2 LITRE ENGINE.