15th Nov, 2017 13:15
Imperial War Museum Duxford
1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe
Estimated at £80,000 - £90,000
Lot details
Registration No: 388 UYY
Chassis No: 677636
Mot Expiry: Exempt
- Sold new in 1953 via Jaguars Los Angeles distributor Hornburg
- A Matching numbers & freshly restored example
- Fitted with a Guy Broad five-speed gearbox and offered with a collection of invoices
According to its vendor this handsome matching numbers Jaguar `is in beautiful condition and in need of no work whatsoever'. A lefthand drive export model '388 UYY' was sold new in 1953 via the company's Los Angeles distributor Hornburg. As now, it was finished in Dove Grey complemented by Tan-coloured interior trim. Apparently it did a modest amount of racing in Arizona in the `70s, the area it spent most of its life in until being shipped to Germany in 1990, where it was stored in a container awaiting a renovation that was never completed. Fast forward to 2015 when it was acquired by a classic car company who sold it to the vendor a year later, following which he instigated a full body-off restoration, during which no corrosion was encountered. The refurbishment involved: a total bare-metal respray; full retrim, including dashboard and carpets; replacement hood; fresh chrome bumpers and grill; and new Guy Broad five-speed gearbox, wire wheels and tyres. The total of the parts alone was over £24,000 and the Jaguar is offered complete with Heritage certificate and V5C document.
The stunning-looking XK120 Roadster caused a sensation when launched at the 1948 London Motorshow. Capable of 120mph and more, 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 electrifying 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 order to confirm the model's top speed potential to the press, the second XK120 built was driven flat out on the Jabbeke straight, Belgium, achieving an astonishing 136.596mph in stripped form.
Registration No: 388 UYY
Chassis No: 677636
Mot Expiry: Exempt
- Sold new in 1953 via Jaguars Los Angeles distributor Hornburg
- A Matching numbers & freshly restored example
- Fitted with a Guy Broad five-speed gearbox and offered with a collection of invoices
According to its vendor this handsome matching numbers Jaguar `is in beautiful condition and in need of no work whatsoever'. A lefthand drive export model '388 UYY' was sold new in 1953 via the company's Los Angeles distributor Hornburg. As now, it was finished in Dove Grey complemented by Tan-coloured interior trim. Apparently it did a modest amount of racing in Arizona in the `70s, the area it spent most of its life in until being shipped to Germany in 1990, where it was stored in a container awaiting a renovation that was never completed. Fast forward to 2015 when it was acquired by a classic car company who sold it to the vendor a year later, following which he instigated a full body-off restoration, during which no corrosion was encountered. The refurbishment involved: a total bare-metal respray; full retrim, including dashboard and carpets; replacement hood; fresh chrome bumpers and grill; and new Guy Broad five-speed gearbox, wire wheels and tyres. The total of the parts alone was over £24,000 and the Jaguar is offered complete with Heritage certificate and V5C document.
The stunning-looking XK120 Roadster caused a sensation when launched at the 1948 London Motorshow. Capable of 120mph and more, 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 electrifying 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 order to confirm the model's top speed potential to the press, the second XK120 built was driven flat out on the Jabbeke straight, Belgium, achieving an astonishing 136.596mph in stripped form.
Auction: Imperial War Museum Duxford, 15th Nov, 2017
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