7th Dec, 2011 15:00

The Pavilion Gardens

 
  Lot 72
 

1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Sold for £135,000

(including buyers premium)


Lot details
Registration No: PPE 101
Chassis No: 660643
Mot Expiry: Aug 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 14th 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-WW2 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 straight-six 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 27th - 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 sensual-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 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 in 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 136.596 mph 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. And so it went on, with the model picking up more and more honours - chassis 660040 (road registered, 'JWK 651') even came within a sniff of winning the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours in the hands of Johnson and Hadley. And it was not long after that the XK120 won its first laurels in the world of rallying, courtesy of chassis 660044 ('NUB 120') in the capable hands of Ian Appleyard; which brings us to neatly the subject of chassis 660643 ('PPE 101').

A steel-bodied right-hand drive Roadster, 'PPE 101' was manufactured at Jaguar's Foleshill factory on January 25th 1951 and supplied new the following month to Mrs N Grant-Norton by Weybridge Automobiles, Weybridge, who were allocated it by Henlys, London. It was finished in traditional Old English White and trimmed in Biscuit and Tan. Mrs Grant-Norton had generously purchased the 120 for her son Walter, and barely four months later he was to be found campaigning it in the Alpine rally, alongside the already famous 'NUB 120'. Appleyard cruised his car to a second consecutive victory, while Grant-Norton achieved a creditable 14th overall and 5th-in-class. With a degree of unofficial Works support Grant-Norton and 'PPE 101' contested the 1952 and 1953 Alpine rallies too, though these attempts were cut short by a broken rear spring and back axle problems respectively.

Grant-Norton was rewarded with a Team prize in the 1952 London Rally for bringing 'PPE 101' home alongside co-pilots 'Gentleman Jack' Sears and Carl Richardson. By now well known to Ian and Pat Appleyard ('PPE 101' ran against 'NUB 120' on the 1951 and 1952 Alpine Rallies and against 'RUB 120' on the 1953 event), he was also one of three XK120 drivers chosen to represent Jaguar on the 1953 RAC Rally; his teammates on this occasion being Appleyard ('NUB 120') and Frank Ground ('LOE 3'). Finishing in 1st, 8th and 14th places, the trio secured a welcome Team award for the Coventry manufacturer. Such was the level of interest this aroused, that Corgi produced a commemorative model set of the victorious XK120 equipe.

Having passed through the hands of Ronald Newboult and Anthony Preston during the late 1950s, the Roadster was then acquired by the Barker family as a showpiece for the Midlands Motor Museum in 1974. After an extensive restoration, 'PPE 101' resumed its competition career during 1983. A veteran of countless historic events including no less than seven Classic Marathons, the Welsh International Rally and a couple of RAC events, 'PPE 101' has clocked up a mighty impressive 40,000 plus competition miles over the last twenty-eight years.

Still finished in Old English White, the Jaguar is these days trimmed in Black leather, but otherwise remains highly original aside from a few upgrades to assist its general reliability and latterday competition exploits. Retaining its original cylinder block, the engine is equipped with 'fast road' camshafts, alternator in place of the dynamo, modern pre-engaged starter motor and electric cooling fan. The bonnet has a safety chain and the radiator a quick-release filler cap and, of particular interest to those above average height, the car nowadays has a smaller three-spoke steering wheel in place of the normal 17-inch Bakelite one, thus creating valuable knee room for those long in the leg. A recent H&H test by a 6ft 2in member of staff showed the Jaguar to be on the button and well mannered whether in traffic or eating up the open road.

The unquestioned provenance of 'PPE 101' is such that it is potentially eligible for such prestigious events as the Mille Miglia Storica, Goodwood Revival (it competed there during the 1953 RAC Rally) and the Le Mans Classic. The Roadster is offered complete with expired FIA HVIF papers as well as: a sizeable history file containing continuation buff log book, V5C, MOT into August 2012, Heritage Certificate, photos and cuttings - including a copy of a four-page feature on the car published in the March 2010 edition of Classic & Sports Car. As a former team mate to the immortal 'NUB 120', 'PPE 101' is without doubt one of the most historically important XK120s to come to market in recent years.
 

All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:

               

Auction: The Pavilion Gardens, 7th Dec, 2011

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