1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster

Lot details
Registration No: 385 YUT
Chassis No: S675858
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- An absolutely stunning XK120 SE Roadster that was manufactured in June 1954 and sold new in California, USA.

- Purchased in August 2006 by the late collector Bill Jacobs of Illinois in a recently restored condition. Mr Jacobs passed away in 2010 and the car was sold in January 2011.

- UK registered in May 2013 on behalf of its American owner and participated in the 2013 and 2014 Mille Miglia Retrospective events. Acquired by the vendor in England in 2015.

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 Saloon's chassis 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. The extraordinary decision was therefore made to design and build an XK-powered two-seater sports car in time for display at the Earls Court Motor Show of October 27 - an apparently impossible task in the six weeks available.

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 manufactured in three different guises - Roadster, Fixed Head Coupe and Drophead Coupe; the combined production volumes of which were 12,055! 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, in May 1949, achieving 126.448mph over the flying mile with hood and side screens erected, and an astonishing 132.596 mph in stripped form.

According to the accompanying copy of its FIVA Identity Card, the stunning left-hand drive sale car vacated Jaguar's Browns Lane production line in June 1954 bound for the USA. It was first registered in August of that year to an R Burneson of California. It then passed to Walter D Willett (Arizona) and was the subject of a body-off, chassis-up restoration before being acquired in 2006 by the multi-franchise car dealer and renowned classic car collector Bill Jacobs of Illinois. Jacobs passed away in 2010 and the still immaculate Jaguar was purchased by Albert Chin of New Jersey the following January, before being sold to Chris Au (also of New Jersey) later the same year. It was in 2013 that its then American owner had it UK registered and drove in that and the ensuing year's Mille Miglia retrospective. The vendor acquired '385 YUT' in September 2015.

As an SE model XK120 it is correctly fitted with a factory-fitted plaque bearing the words 'It is certified that this Jaguar car is an exact replica of the record-breaking car which attained the speed of 132.6mph at Jabbeke Belgium, 30 May, 1949. William Haynes, Chief Engineer, Jaguar cars'. In standard form, an SE is endowed with 180bhp but it is understood that, when restored, '385 YUT' was equipped with a slightly later XK120 cylinder block topped by a C-Type cylinder head that would have raised the output to c.210bhp. The Identity Card makes mention of a 'partial cosmetic restoration' in 2011/2012 and it is unsurprising the vendor presently regards the bodywork, Dark Blue paintwork, Red Connolly hide interior trim, 3.4-litre XK engine and four-speed manual gearbox as all being in 'excellent' condition. The car comes complete with: Brooklands aeroscreen in place of the standard windscreen; evocative teardrop headrest, leather bonnet strap and pair of period Lucas spotlights; and rides on chromed wire wheels. Motorsport enthusiasts should note that, true to its mouth-watering looks, this charismatic cat has already completed two Mille Miglia retrospectives and is eligible for further such top quality historic events. Immaculate inside and out as well a peak performer, '385 YUT' is the epitome of the perfect road/race XK120 Roadster and represents an exciting opportunity for Jaguar enthusiasts everywhere.

PLEASE NOTE: An electrical fault has just occurred on this vehicle resulting in a suspected inoperative fuel pump and incorrectly wired ignition switch. The vendor has agreed to fund the reasonable cost of these repairs post sale.