1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Fixed Head Coupe

Lot details
Registration No: RKX 252
Chassis No: S669005
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.

Supplied new to Le Mans winner Peter Whitehead & the fifth RHD FHC built

'Nothing like the XK 120, 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

The stunning-looking XK120 Roadster caused a sensation when it was launched at the London Motor Show of 1948. Capable of 120mph and more (hence the name), it immediately assumed the mantle of the world's fastest production car. The equally elegant Fixed Head Coupe version followed in 1951 with the Drop Head Coupe completing the range in 1953.

The key to the car's stunning performance was its all new, alloy-headed DOHC 3.4-litre, straight-six engine, the basic design of which successfully powered a whole range of Jaguars until the late '80s. In standard form the output was 160bhp, but in SE (Special Equipment) guise (which included firmer suspension and a twin exhaust) this rose to 180bhp, and with the C-Type head installed nearer 200bhp was on tap. In testing a Fixed Head SE XK120 in 1952, Autocar achieved a 0-60mph time of 9.9 seconds.

The XK120's suspension was independent by wishbones and torsion bars at the front and by live axle mounted on semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear. 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. A few months later the same car won the Daily Express production car race at Silverstone in the hands of Leslie Johnson. Peter Walker was second in a sister car.

Another Jaguar ace was Peter Whitehead, whose many great drives include: teaming up with Walker to win the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hour race; his 1953 Rheims 12 Hours victory with Stirling Moss, and his 1954 Rheims win with Ken Wharton. It was Whitehead who was the first keeper of 'RKX 252', which he took delivery of on February 18th 1953 from the supplying dealer, Henlys, London. As now, it wore Suede Green coachwork teamed with a Suede Green interior. In addition to its eminent first owner, the Jaguar is notable for being the first SE XK120 built by the factory and only the fifth right-hand drive Fixed Head Coupe to leave the Browns Lane production line.

However, all this wonderful history and more was unknown to the vendor when he first discovered the car in a brick garage in Huntingdon back in 1994/1995, where it had lain dormant since 1970. He is unsure how long Whitehead kept the Jaguar (he sadly died in September 1958 while competing in the Tour de France rally with his brother Graham) or exactly who else owned the car in those early days, but has established how it arrived in the Huntingdon garage. Evidently it was bought by a USAF airman based at Alconbury near Huntingdon. When his stint in the UK ended, he passed it to a colleague. The same happened once more, and it was the third keeper who left it with the Huntingdon garage while fighting in Vietnam. Unable to pay the resulting £40 bill and inevitably unsure if he would return from his next tour of duty, he settled the debt with the Jaguar. Evidently the garage owner kept the car long enough to respray it white and retrim it in black. It is understood his last drive in the car entailed taking his daughter to church.

Having woken the car from its slumbers and achieved a purchase, the vendor contacted Jaguar Heritage, requesting they traced its history. He was warned it was a lengthy process and not to expect a result for some weeks. He was surprised therefore to get a phone call within days. Was he sure it was chassis S669005 they enquired? Once all doubt was erased, great excitement ensued, as Jaguar learnt that a very important car they understood had been scrapped was very much alive, and the vendor discovered his purchase was a great deal more special than he could possibly have known.

At the end of 1996, the vendor decided the Jaguar should be returned to its former glory and entrusted it to Brown & Gammons to undertake a 'nut and bolt, no expense spared' restoration. Another surprise was in store for him - during the strip down, he received a call from Ron Gammons insisting he visited the car as soon as possible. They had discovered that the back of all the items of wood trimming were stamped WHITEHEAD in large letters. According to the trim shop foreman from Browns Lane, who is still alive, Sir Williams Lyons was well known for ensuring his 'special' customers received the best materials for their cars and it's more than likely he had his craftsmen put aside the best timbers for his Works driver Peter Whitehead. Indeed, there is a suspicion he may even have gifted him the car.

Needless to say, such original items were lovingly restored and put back on the car. The performance of 'RKX 252' was, however, further improved during the restoration. The engine capacity was increased from 3.4 to 3.8 litres and a C-Type cylinder head fitted. The gearbox was replaced by a modern five-speed Getrag unit - the original was, of course, kept and is included in the sale. Finally, to ensure this now very fast Jaguar can be retarded when required, disc brakes replaced the drum units at the front.

This splendid Jaguar was not only owned by a Le Mans-winning works driver and one of the best racers of his day, but was well known to the racing fraternity of the time - sufficiently so to have received an honourable mention in the autobiographies of both Duncan Hamilton and long time mechanic to Stirling Moss, Alf Francis. Now offered in excellent overall condition, it presents a very exciting opportunity to Jaguar enthusiasts everywhere. It comes complete with MOT and tax, the aforementioned gearbox, and a large history file including all the bills and photographs relating to the car's outstanding restoration.