Lot 159: 1953 Jaguar XK120 Coupe

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 has 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!
Its stunning appearance notwithstanding, the XK120 was conventional enough beneath the skin, being built on a separate chassis featuring independent front suspension by means of wishbones and torsion bars, a live rear axle and drum brakes all round. The car’s heart was, of course, the fabulous XK engine. Intended for Jaguar’s post-war range-topping saloon, the 3.4-litre six embodied the best of modern design, boasting twin overhead camshafts running in an aluminium-alloy cylinder head, seven main bearings and a maximum output of 160bhp. When installed in the lightweight XK120, the result was a car with a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio and blistering performance.
The XK120 set new standards of comfort, roadholding and performance for British sportscars and in keeping with the Jaguar tradition there was nothing to touch it at the price. Coupé and drophead coupé versions followed, which provided the opportunity to offer a luxurious interior with copious amounts of wood veneer. Regardless of the type of bodywork, the XK120 was a genuine 120mph car capable of sustained high-speed cruising.
Widening the appeal of the XK120, the fixed-head coupé version debuted at the Geneva Salon in March 1951. We are advised that the engine is in running condition and the odometer reading is 3,938 miles, which may suggest a North American history. Resplendent in silver with a black interior and sporting - for the coupe – the more stylish disc wheels and spats, the XK120 Coupe must be regarded as one of the most beautiful designs of the 1950s.

Élargissant le marché potentiel de la XK 120, la version coupé est apparue au Salon de Genève en mars 1951. Nous savons que le moteur de cette voiture est en état de fonctionnement et que le compteur affiche 3 938 miles, ce qui suggère un historique nord-américain. Peint couleur argent avec intérieur noir et arborant (pour le coupé) les très élégantes roues à disque et les spats, le coupé XK 120 peut être considéré comme l'une des plus belles créations stylistiques des années 1950.