1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster
A delightful home market example painted to special order by the factory in its current hue

Registration No: MUC 424
Chassis No: 660920
MOT: Exempt

• A home-market example that was finished to special order in the believed-unique colour scheme of Primrose Yellow over a Black interior
• Notably original and retains its period correct 'spats and steels' plus Moss gearbox, etc.
• Subject to previous restoration work and presents in fine mechanical fettle

Launched at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show, the Jaguar XK120 Roadster caused a sensation. Penned by William Lyons, the model's sensuous lines seemed almost impossibly glamorous to a country still feeling the effects of rationing, while the 120mph top speed that its name signified soon became the stuff of legend. Flooded with orders, Jaguar began limited hand-built production soon thereafter (although it was not until 1950 that the factory was sufficiently tooled-up to discard aluminium in favour of steel for the curvaceous bodywork). Built round a cruciform-braced box-section chassis equipped with independent torsion-bar front suspension, a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle and hydraulic drum brakes, the lithe two-seater proved equally adept on road or track, winning both the RAC TT and Alpine Trial during 1950 (the former victory coming in the hands of Stirling Moss). Credited with 160bhp and 190lb ft of torque in standard tune, its widely-admired 3,442cc DOHC straight-six engine was allied with a four-speed manual transmission. Arguably the defining sports car of its generation, a perilously shaky post-war British economy gave the Coventry manufacturer little choice but to concentrate on overseas sales and, resultingly, home-market examples are notably scarce, with just 1,170 right-hand drive Open Top Speedsters built out of a total of 7,606.

Jaguars do not come much prettier than this XK120 Roadster, which boasts a storied history and a believed-unique specification in addition to its good looks. Chassis 660920 was completed on 6th October, 1951, painted Yellow with a Black interior and originally sold through Henlys London. Reputedly the only British-market XK120 to be finished in the lovely primrose hue, which was intended for the American market, its owner in the 1990s, Barry Chadwick, documented its early history as follows: “Delivered new to a spinster lady in Warwickshire who kept it [almost] 20 years and covered only about 20,000 miles. She sold it to Peter Sargent, who had raced factory E-types in the 1960s. He sold it in about 1977. The car then went through the hands of two or three London owners and was sold to Straight Six in Edgware in 1985.”

Sargent was the owner at the time of the 1970 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, when his car was one of 28 Jaguars which completed a lap of honour to celebrate 21 years of XKs, each carrying a racing driver. A photograph from the occasion exists online, showing 660920 with a driver believed to be either Jo Siffert or Pedro Rodriguez. A colour photograph in the history file depicts 660920 at a 1970 JDC meeting at Silverstone, looking much as it does now.

Straight Six sold the car in 1985 to Mill Lane, which completed a thorough bodywork overhaul, and extensive work continued through the 1990s including overhauls of the cylinder head, brakes and Moss gearbox in 1993. It was also noted that high-lift camshafts and dual exhausts had been fitted at some stage after manufacture. The XK had only three owners between 1986 and 2007, when it was purchased by a well-known actor and car enthusiast, who has cared for it ever since.

Further work was undertaken in the present ownership, with a stainless-steel exhaust and many other new parts purchased during 2013. An aluminium radiator and electric fan were bought from Guy Broad in 2016, and an alternator conversion was completed in 2018. A new fuel pump was purchased from Burlen in April of this year, and a new battery was installed in June. Total expenditure on parts since 2007 has exceeded £4,000.

Today, the XK120 appears in generally lovely condition and was running well for our photography session, although further cosmetic work would enhance its aesthetic appeal. The history file includes a Jaguar heritage certificate, copious invoices, MOT certificates and tax discs dating back to 1991, magazines, correspondence and notes from previous owners. Available records suggest the 47,500 miles on the odometer is genuine.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430