20th Mar, 2019 13:00

Imperial War Museum Duxford

 
  Lot 84
 

1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Drophead Coupe

Sold for £91,125

(including buyers premium)


Lot details
Registration No: 245 JFJ
Chassis No: S667171S
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- Special order car with C-Type head, twin SU HS8 sandcast carburettors and close-ratio gearbox

- Supplied new through Appleyards, Leeds to Farnley Hall, North Yorkshire

- Originally road registered as 'SUB 999'

- Current ownership since 1972

- In storage since 1974

- 'S' suffix and prefix chassis number

- 1 of only 34 RHD special equipment cars produced

- Only 2 former keepers

- Engine turns freely, stored with oil in the bores

- Letter from Jaguar in 1972 confirming "fitment of high compression head when new"

Now here's something to get the hearts of classic Jaguar enthusiasts pumping - a 'barn find' XK120 that's being offered at No Reserve! This apparently complete and largely sound-looking time warp example has been in its current ownership since 1972, and in storage for all but two of the intervening years. Originally registered 'SUB 999', the Jaguar was supplied new to Farnley Hall, North Yorkshire via Appleyards of Leeds. It was delivered complete with C-Type cylinder head, twin SU HS8 sandcast carburettors and a close ratio gearbox, and the sale includes a 1972 letter from Jaguar Cars confirming 'fitment of high compression head when new'. One of only 34 righthand drive XK120s built to SE specification, its chassis number includes the relevant 'S' suffix and prefix. Finished in Dark Green and trimmed Pale Green hide matched to similarly coloured carpets, '245 JFJ' had had just three keepers to date, and currently displays a mere 18,237 unwarranted but eminently feasible miles from new. It was apparently stored with oil in the bores, so the engine still turns freely. Evident extras include a pair of auxiliary driving lights, wing-mounted radio aerial, chrome luggage rack and GB plate. An amazing opportunity.

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 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 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 27 - 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!

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.
 

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: Imperial War Museum Duxford, 20th Mar, 2019

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