1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Lot details
Registration No: LAB 730
Chassis No: 661032
Mot Expiry: Dec 2012

"Nothing like the XK120, and at its price, has been previously achieved - a car of tremendous performance yet displaying the flexibility and even the silkiness and smoothness of a mild mannered saloon." (The Autocar, April 14, 1950)

It is true to say that the phenomenal success of the Jaguar XK120 was completely unexpected by Sir William Lyons and the team at Browns Lane, whose post-war focus was the MKVII Saloon. However, as the chassis for the MKV/MKVII Saloons and XK engine neared completion in 1948, it occurred to Lyons that a sports car powered by the stunning new DOHC unit would probably outperform almost anything else in production at the time. Moreover, a limited run of such cars would allow Jaguar to fine tune its new masterpiece before committing it to the scale of production necessary for the MKVII. The extraordinary decision was therefore made to design and build an XK-powered two-seater in time for display at the Earls Court Motor Show of October 27 - an apparently impossible task in the time available.

A fully equipped MKV chassis was duly commandeered and 1ft 6in cut from the centre. The entire project from green light to display at the show, including the manufacture of one of the most sensuous-looking bodies ever crafted for a motorcar, took just six weeks. The intention was, depending on public reaction, to hand-build a few hundred Roadsters as required. However, within a few days of the Bronze show car going on display, it was evident that a complete rethink was required - such was the euphoria with which the XK120 was greeted. In the end, production spanned five years and the car was produced in three guises - Roadster, Fixed Head Coupe and Drophead Coupe; the combined production volumes of which were 12,055! And, of course, the model spawned the XK140 and 150, both of which were suitably successful in their own right.

Even the XK engine undoubtedly exceeded all expectations, the basic design of which helped power a whole range of Jaguars right up until the late '80s. As launched, the output of the standard alloy-headed DOHC 3.4-litre, straight-six for the XK120 was given as 160bhp, but in SE (Special Equipment) guise this rose to 180bhp, and with the C-Type head installed nearer 200bhp was on tap. In testing an XK120 Roadster during 1949, The Motor achieved a 0-60mph time of 10.0 seconds and a top speed of 124.6mph. The 120's innovative front suspension was independent by wishbones and torsion bars, while the rear featured a live axle mounted on semi-elliptic leaf springs. Steering was by recirculating ball and braking courtesy of Lockheed hydraulic drums all round. In order to confirm the model's top speed potential to the press, the second XK120 built, chassis 670002, was driven flat out on the Jabbeke straight, Belgium, achieving 126.448mph over the flying mile with hood and side screens erected, and an astonishing 136.596mph in stripped form.

'LAB 730' is an original right-hand drive 1952 XK120 Roadster finished in classically traditional Old English White and trimmed in Red leather. According to the vendor it is a very original, well-sorted, 'matching numbers example', and he considers but does not warrant the indicated mileage of just 82,560 to be correct. This is backed up by the numerous MOT certificates that are in the history file. The XK has been regularly maintained by J. Chatham and other XK specialists and treated to an older restoration. At this time the body was restored and repainted and the engine and gearbox fully overhauled - the seller now views the bodywork as "very good", the paintwork as "nicely patinated", the interior trim as "beautiful", and the 3.4 litre six-cylinder engine and four-speed gearbox as "excellent". The Jaguar is being sold complete with buff log book, lots of paperwork, photographs of the restoration and an MOT into December. The vendor summarises 'LAB 730' thus: "The car is unmolested and represents an XK120 as intended by the factory with subtle additions including a full stainless exhaust system which sounds gorgeous and a Kenlowe fan making the Jag thoroughly useable and a joy to drive".