Lot 244: 1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

It was at the 1948 London Motor Show that Jaguar virtually threw the sports car world into turmoil with its stunning new XK120. Here was a car with incredible style and looks, a powerful six cylinder engine installed in an outstanding chassis and with a remarkably low price - a quarter that of a V12 Ferrari with similar performance. The combination was unbeatable and, without doubt, the XK120 was an absolute milestone for both Jaguar and the motor industry as a whole. XK120 orders flooded in, ironic as it was designed as an interim model to publicise the XK engine for the new Mk VII saloon - Jaguar had only planned to produce around 200! At the heart of the William Lyons styled roadster was that all-new 3,442cc twin overhead camshaft XK engine, producing 160bhp via twin SU carburettors - sufficient for 126mph and 0-60mph in 10.0 seconds. The XK120 became a massive success - both on the road and the track where it scored numerous victories, the many drivers including Stirling Moss, Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead, Leslie Johnson and Ian Appleyard; indeed, in XK120C/C-Type form it won Le Mans in both 1951 and '53, while its engine was to power three more La Sarthe winners and a whole host of Jaguars right up to the present day. Originally bought by the current owner in February 1988 from the USA and imported back to the UK, it was then the subject of thorough body off restoration culminating in 1996 with a respray back to the original British Racing Green. Southern Classics undertook this comprehensive rebuild supplying bills detailing works adding up to a figure in excess of £51,000. There is no doubt that this certainly an excellent example; the exhaust note bouncing off the gladed country lanes was enough to tell me that the engine was in rude health. Supplied with an extensive file of bills, a Heritage Certificate, import documents showing all taxes paid as well as a set of photographs taken during the restoration. This groundbreaking car when new is probably as good now as it ever was. A thoroughly rewarding drive with full documented backup.