“ Lovingly restored over 14-years, with some subtle modifications to improve performance and ride in the modern era. ”

Correct numbers for engine block, gearbox, Salisbury rear axle. The B type cylinder head is from the 1960s giving peak torque at lower revs. Engine rebuilt by Ivor Searle including full dynamic balancing, modern rear crank seal modifications, tappet guides locked, valves and seats for unleaded. Diaphragm clutch. All new brake hydraulic system components including pipes, drums and linings. Five new MWS wire wheels with Blockley tyres, new hubs and spinners. New chassis, modified for telescopic rear shock absorbers (original chassis is available).

Background
Introduced at the 1948 London Motor Show, the XK120’s lithe looks, throaty 160bhp six-cylinder engine and 120mph top speed ensured that the alloy bodied roadster was an instant success in a world still reeling from six years of fighting.

It helped that it was cheap; just £1,298 (which works out to the equivalent of around £41,000 in today’s money…) for the world’s fastest production car was a bit of a bargain, albeit one that was unsustainable in the longer-term: Just 240 examples were built before production switched to steel, presumably to save money.

Despite a little extra weight, the car’s performance remained the same - and to prove it to a world made increasingly sceptical by all that recent unpleasantness, Jaguar took an XK120 to Jabbeke in Belgium where it clocked an almighty 126mph.

The fixed-head coupé arrived in 1951, adding a roof and a more elegant aesthetic. Yes, it was 15kg heavier but it was still very quick and you got a much more luxurious interior than that of the convertible by way of compensation.

The XK120 also proved to be a redoubtable rally car, further enhancing its already considerable sporting credentials. By the time production ceased in 1954, a whopping 12,055 had been sold.

Overview
Finished in Brewster Green with a biscuit leather interior, ‘GRG 690’ is a 1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé that’s been carefully restored and improved over the past 14 years to better meet the needs of 21st century roads and traffic.

Ivor Searle, the well-known engine specialist, rebuilt the XK120’s heart at great cost in 2018, a job that included full dynamic balancing, modifying the rear crank seal to the modern type, locking the tappet guides, and fitting hardened valves and seats for unleaded petrol amongst much more.

The engine itself has the correct numbers for the year and benefits from the later B-type cylinder head for even better torque at low revs. The gearbox, Salisbury rear axle, and body numbers are all correct for the year too, and the clutch is a diaphragm type.

Of course, the braking system was gone through too, with new brake pipes, drums, and linings being fitted as a matter of course. The seller assures us that the brakes now lock under heaving braking, something that isn’t always the case with the XK120.

The chassis, which is new, has been modified for telescopic dampers – but if you value originality over handling and ride you’ll be pleased to know that the original chassis is available should you want it. The front suspension has been Polybushed too, and it sits on a set of new MWS wire wheels that are fitted with Blockley tyres.

The radiator was re-cored by Anglian Radiators, the exhaust is made of stainless-steel, and it has the correct rear window in the new hood.

This car been in the seller’s care since 2007 and showing just one former keeper on the V5.

Exterior
Brewster Green suits the XK120’s rakish lines so well that few will guess that it actually comes from Bentley’s palette of colours.

Mind you, a large part of the reason it works so well is the condition of the panels, which are pretty much flawless in both alignment and condition; consistent shutlines are a given with a restoration of this quality and the panel alignment is further showcased by an unbroken line from the flowing front wings through to the XK120’s muscular haunches.

It’s a heck of a profile, that’s for sure.

There are no dents, dinks, or other significant damage either – and of course, rust simply isn’t an issue.

Much of the external brightwork was either replaced or rechromed including the two-piece front bumper, which was supplied by Coventry Auto Components and installed with a new fitting kit. Classic Bumper Services caried out the re-chroming, which looks as good now as it did when the firm finished it five years ago.

The MWS wire wheels still look like new with no tarnishing, pitting, or rust – however, should you prefer the look of the originals, then the five black wire wheels that used to be fitted are also included in the auction.

Tyres are matching 185VR16 tubeless radials from Blockley; made in 2018, they have oodles of tread left because they’ve barely been used. Plus, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The folding roof is in a very good condition with no rips, tears, or holes. It fits well too, and the only issue we’re aware of is “a mistake was made with the hood fitting so that the rear window panel cannot be unzipped.”

It sits neatly beneath a cover when it is folded, and fits like a drum when it is raised – and it probably won’t surprise you to learn that it transitions between the two states smoothly and easily.

The huge headlamps and the diminutive Lucas rear lamps are flawless, as is the glazing, including the rear window, which is the correct one for the model.

You may notice the bonnet badge, which is a repro made to look patinated.

As for flaws, there is a chip to the trailing edge of the driver’s door, with a few more chips being present to the boot lid and aperture, and around the fuel filler cap. There is also an inch-long crack in the bonnet near the radiator, something that is a common fault, as well as marks on the offside front wing just in front of the mirror and on the wheelarch.

Other than these minor flaws, a good machine-polish would enable it to fulfill its considerable potential.

Estimate £45,000 - £55,000

View car and current price bid HERE