Description
JAGUAR XK120 DROPHEAD COUPE, RHD, 1953
BATTLESHIP GREY WITH VM 3171 RED HIDE
8, 400 MILES SINCE FULL RESTORATION
CHASSIS No. 667149
Hexagon Classics are delighted to offer this wonderful example of the XK120. Our car has benefitted from large amounts of recent work and expenditure with marque experts, including a ground-up restoration and a full engine rebuild. Presented in its original factory colour scheme, just as it left the Browns Lane factory, it also retains its stylish rear wheel spats, which are so evocative of this golden era of motoring.
The XK120 was launched in roadster form at the 1948 London Motor Show as a test bed and show car for the new Jaguar XK 3. 4 overhead camshaft engine. It caused such a sensation that it persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The “120” in its name referred to its 126 mph (193 km/ h) top speed (and it could actually reach 132 mph with the windscreen removed!), which made the Jaguar the world’s fastest standard production car at the time of its launch. To meet demand, it was necessary for the mass-production versions, beginning with the 1950 model year, to have pressed-steel bodies, but retained their aluminium doors, bonnet, and boot lid. The Drophead Coupe was introduced in 1953.
The XK120 left the Jaguar factory on 5th December 1953 and was supplied by Appleyard Leeds to Ross Bros of Ilkley. The first owner was a Mr James Roy Wood of Worthing, Sussex, and the car has had just three owners since. The XK120 also retains its valuable original number plate, and there is a Jaguar Heritage trace certificate confirming the build sheet and first ownership details. So many of these Jaguar cars were shipped to export markets, so finding a genuine UK-supplied, right-hand drive example is always more difficult.
The Jaguar comes all the previous ownership details, green log book, historic road tax disc and service history dating back to the 1960’s. This body, engine and chassis matching numbers example has recently enjoyed a four-year body-off restoration including a full engine rebuild with detailed pictorial records, which are recorded on a memory stick.
This sensational XK120 Drophead Coupe, is presented in magnificent order is available for immediate inspection at our London showroom.
