1953 Jaguar XK120 Drop Head Coupé

Veyron Template                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1953 Jaguar XK120 Drop Head Coupe - Left Hand Drive                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

On Offer Through The Seven Gables Motor Garage Ltd :  An Actual Barn Find Discovery (driven into barn in 1965). Complete 100% Numbers Matching. 1953  Jaguar XK120 Drop Head Coupe

                                                                                          Details                                                                                         Year                 1953                                             Make                 Jaguar                                             Model                 XK120 Drop Head Coupe - Left Hand Drive                                             Odometer                 40. 16 (quite possibly original)                                             VIN                 677304                                             Engine                 3. 4 Litre. Six Cylinder. Double Overhead Camshafts w/ twin S. U. 's                                             Transmission                 Manual                                             Paint                 Black (ex factory)                                             Interior                 Tan (original interior is present) with a Sand hood                                                                                             Condition Report                                                                                                                         Body                                     Needs Work                                                   Paint                                     Needs Work                                                   Interior                                     Needs Work                                                   Carpets                                     Dirty/Needs work                                                   Engine                                     Needs Work                                                   Transmission                                     Needs Work                                                   Suspension                                     Average                                                   Steering                                     Average                                                   Brakes                                     Needs Work                                                   Wheels                                     Average                                                   Tires                                     Needs Replacement                                                                                                                                   About the Seller                                                                                                      

Located in the United States near Detroit. Michigan. The Seven Gables Motor Garage Ltd offers vintage British motor car spares and the occasional classic vehicle.  We have shipped vintage spares across the globe and offer unsurpassed client care in doing so. At the upper right. taken in 1968. is the owner Gary at the young age of 15 sitting on top of the world in his first car: an XK140 DHC bought for $100.  Because he was too young to drive it he posed for a lot of pictures in his parent's driveway!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      .                                                                       Gary@TheSevenGablesMotorGarage. com                                                                     248-594-5906                                                                     Gary Seraphinoff. 4380 Squirrel Road. Bloomfield. Michigan USA 48304                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Overview                                                                                              

Please note:  The eBay UK listing of this Jaguar that started yesterday. Saturday 30 August. was canceled because I inadvertently forgot to provide a Reserve Price.  It was off to a formidable start and  I apologize for this oversight to the 1. 50 viewers. 71 eBay "Watchers" and. of course. the first bidder (who was already alerted) for this inconvenience.  The listing had to be ended to revise and add the reserve price. Most assuredly NOT the way I like things done here.  Lets try again shall we?  - Thanks for understanding. Gary Seraphinoff

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE SEVEN GABLES MOTOR GARAGE LTD

Although operated on a somewhat small scale by the owner Gary Seraphinoff. The Seven Gables Motor Garage Ltd located in the Detroit. Michigan USA suburb of Bloomfield Hills has however a very large amount of vintage British motoring enthusiasm and experience. Passionate for over a half century. Gary carries a fair amount of experience in dealing with these motor cars. Being a hobby as much as it is an business. we sell vintage vehicles and the spares for these classics.  In addition to having a small collection of British motorcars (and of late a wonderful fuel injected 1957 Corvette) with the focus being Jaguar XK120's as well as his wife Kathy's. someday to be on the road again. MG-TD. Located at "Seven Gables". the family home. Gary has sold vintage spares and motorcars around the globe and offers unsurpassed care doing it.  Upon request. we can provide referrals from clients the world over from both spares and motor car sales. We can be reached by telephone at 00-1-248. 594. 5906. or by email at Gary@TheSevenGablesMotorGarage. com

1953 LEFT HAND DRIVE XK120 DROP HEAD COUPE - A COMPLETE NUMBERS MATCHING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE AND DESIRABLE XK120 DROP HEAD COUPE VARIANT - FABULOUS ORIGINAL LIVERY OF "BLACK" WITH "TAN" INTERIOR AND "SAND" HOOD - OBVIOUS RUST REPAIR ON BODY NEEDED BUT A VERY SOLID CHASSIS - ORIGINAL ENGINE TURNS AND BACKFIRES BUT IS CLOSE TO STARTING

It was shown here on eBay UK for the first time in December 2015 and February 2016 and now I am listing it again.  Although in December it had a staggering 12. 50 views. it did not meet the reserve.  In February 2016 it sold to a gentleman in Sussex who has subsequently become a client/friend.  After he paid for it. but before shipping. he discovered I also had an E-Type OTS project.  Being that the E-Type was his true heart's desire he asked me to trade the DHC for the E-Type with the understanding that he would also buy this DHC at a later date.  I agreed to hold this for him but these past few weeks a most regrettable family situation has developed with my client and he is now not able to "buy back" the XK120.  So its back again for sale and a new home.

Wearing its 1965 license plate. this XK120 has been completely hidden from the public view since 1965.  This amazing time capsule was unearthed by me from. of all places. an Amish farmer's barn in the United States where the Amish family's friend DROVE it into the barn in 1965. Yes. its true that the Amish cannot own motorcars but the Amish owner of this XK proudly told me that he was Reformed Amish.  Alrighty then. now that everything about that is clarified. in a story that can't even be made up. the aforementioned family friend was on his way to spend prison time and requested storage of the XK120 during his incarceration.  All should have went well after the gentleman paid his debt to society except for the fact that upon his release from prison. he promptly drove a large earth moving excavator straight down main sheet and attempted to destroy the courthouse because of his enmity against the presiding judge that was at his trial.

Needless to say. it was back to the pokey again for the offender and the Amish farmer's son. at the youthful age of 15. stepped in and bought this motorcar and even another XK120. an OTS that had sat alongside a petrol station since 1959 (see image gallery).  His intention at the time was to put the drive train from the DHC into the OTS that was missing its own engine and gearbox. I have often thanked the Patron Saint of Jaguars he did not follow through with his plans and he just let them sit untouched. In an occasion of true serendipity. a friend of mine some years back was showing his XK120 Fixed Head Coupe at a show and the Amish farmer. now some 45 years older. said that he had "some Jigwires in his barn".  My friend doubted him but. by golly. upon investigation he surely did turn out to have "Jigwires" in his barn and what you see here is the result.  I thereafter kindled a friendship with Olen. the Amish farmer's son. and encouraged him with pursuing his boyhood dream of restoring the Open Two Seater.  We shared a special kinship being the same age and having both gotten XK Jaguar Drop Head Coupes at the age of 15.  As time passed. he announced to me one day that I should buy them. I then reminded him of his life long dream. he persisted. I reminded him again. but after a time I subsequently acquired both of them. Now. some years later. after having kept a sentimental attachment to both of these motorcars I decided to move on and sell them.   I did sell the 1951 OTS/ Roadster that is pictured below. along with two other XK120's. a few months back to a great fellow also in Sussex who I now also count as a new friend.

The 1962-1963 New York state inspection sticker is still on the window and since the XK was driven into the barn in 1965 I would guess that it was in reasonable mechanical condition when it did so.  The 1965 Michigan license plate will accompany the motor car as a part of its historical origins (that's me in the photo gallery below pointing to the license plate).

COSMETIC CONDITION

In the interest of showing its remarkable provenance. I have elected to share some of the dusty images of when this DHC was first discovered. Of course. it looked its very worst there in the Amish farmer's barn. Yes. its rusty and tattered even after its been somewhat cleaned up here at The Seven Gables Garage. The main point though is that this motor-car has TREMENDOUS promise:  Its all there with what is probably low. original mileage on the odometer. original interior. matching numbers. ALL THE RIGHT STUFF that is most desirable to start with. I can't begin to tell you how DIFFICULT it is to find a 100% numbers matching XK120.  It seems they were always getting cylinder heads or engine blocks swapped out.

1) The body is rusted in places and some amateur. and I do mean amateur. "repaired" the rear section of the body with some horrific repairs. The rusted sills were badly removed at that time and the ham-fisted efforts even bent one of the chassis body mounts in doing so. The usual XK rust they are almost all afflicted with needs repair.  I am absolutely certain that this motorcar will sigh in relief after its repaired.  2) All of the glass is original and present and the chromium plated brass window frames are nearly like new.  3) Remarkably. it has its original leather seats and trim.  4) The fragile alloy bonnet is in great condition and fits the body perfectly. That's a real bonus.  5) The chrome grille is in beautiful condition. 6) I sourced a set of (matching Black!) spats to complete the XK's classic looks.  7) It has a great chassis and it still has its leather spring gaiters attached to the rear leaf springs. 8)  While I cannot unequivocally say that the bodywork has never been in a major collision. I truly believe it has not and that furthermore the chassis is similarly untouched.

MECHANICAL CONDITION

1) As mentioned before. the engine is nearly ready to start. The distributor is stuck for now in the block and my colleague could not get a proper mechanical advantage while in situ to help its release without damaging it. After the engine's removal the engine bay it will be easily accessible.  For now it wants to start but not quite.  3) The original gearbox cover plate is missing but I have a proper "SL" cover plate from another XK120 to go with the car.  The original gearbox number is on the gearbox casting.  4) All the important parts are there and what small items are gone are somewhat minor and obtainable.  5) The XK rolls and steers with ease.

THE PRESENT LOCATION OF THIS XK

As mentioned above. I am located in Detroit. Michigan in the United States.  This XK will. if sold to a European destination. in all likelihood be transported about 500 miles (about $650) to the dock in New Jersey.  From there loaded into a container and shipped aboard a cargo vessel (about $1. 00) to the desired European port.  As I know it. there is no duty paid on entry into the UK because of its age and only VAT of a reduced rate of 5%.  I will attempt to update this knowledge and because it originated from the UK perhaps there is no VAT to be paid at all since it was paid already once.  You can research the "9705 Goods of Historical Interest" tax law concerning this.

ABOUT THE IMAGES IN THE GALLERY BELOW

The images were taken over a period of years and view in this chronological order: 1) The initial recovery of the XK's. We are located right at the Canadian border and even though it was bitter cold weather once Olen decided to sell them to me I was anxious to retrieve them without delay. The temperature was -23 degrees Celsius that day. You can see the bearded Amish farmer standing proudly next to the DHC that was his first motor car.  It was quite an unforgettable sight as I followed home the 60 foot trailer in the dark with those two XK's laden on top of it.  2)  Back at The Seven Gables Motor Garage my then 85 year old father and my still beautiful 80 year mother can be seen helping me slide the DHC in the garage over a ice covered driveway.  A few months later images of the DHC. now placed on a mobile cart. show accurate views of the XK's condition.  Lastly. taken a few months ago. are some views of the XK in the garage.  As previously mentioned. it can be seen that some engine components have been removed or loosened in an attempt to start it this past year.

I have been a professional photographer for forty years.  Therefore these are very sharp and clear high resolution images that show everything in graphic detail. They are unlike the majority of images representing motorcars in most types of media. You may view these images and say "well. this shows too much rust. etc" or "just look at the corrosion on that aluminum manifold".  Believe me. the other XK's that others are selling are quite possibly also in a similar condition but its much more difficult to perceive their faults. If you can. use these images to your advantage because what you see with my photography is the real thing.  Its better to see it as it is now rather than possibly be disappointed later because the blurry. dark images taken elsewhere did not tell the story properly.  In the world of XK120's. this example is typical of one that has been on the road for ten years or so.  I can speak that with some authority: between my colleague and I we own well over a dozen of these wonderful motorcars and we know intimately what to expect in every crack and crevice.

If you have a desire to study the images in HIGH RESOLUTION here is a link to copy and paste.  I also noticed that SOME INTERNET BROWSERS DO NOT DISPLAY ALL OF THE IMAGES.  As an example. if you do not see a long row of XK120's pictured toward the end of this image gallery than copy and paste this link to see the entire gallery:

http://www. smugmug. com/gallery/n-5RfH6b/

TO SUM UP

The XK120 DHC is a fast diminishing commodity and this example presents a fascinating opportunity for some fortunate individual. There were relatively few made during its brief two year life.  This is also the variant Jaguar made the least of.  Rarely seen when new. rarer still today.  Its really the very best of two worlds: the  burr walnut wood luxury of the Fixed Head Coupe interior blended with the top-down capability of the Open Two Seater.  I wish you luck and thanks for looking.   Gary Seraphinoff

                                         The Seven Gables Motor Garage Ltd

                                         (telephone)  248. 594. 5906

                                         (email)  Gary@TheSevenGablesMotorGarage. com

                                                                                                                                                                                              Terms of Sale                                                                                              

The Deposit and the Final Payment
Please be ready to place a 1000 GBP Paypal deposit within twenty-four 24 hours of auction's close. A bank wire transfer must be paid within seven (7) days of the close of the auction.  The Paypal deposit is not refundable.

Note: If the deposit is not received within twenty-four (24) hours or if the sale is not complete within seven (7) days of the close of the auction. we reserve the right to sell to the next highest bidder or to another qualified buyer.

Legally Binding Contract:
If you are the winning bidder of this auction please follow through with the transaction. Remember. your winning bid on Ebay is a legally binding contract to purchase.

                                                                                                                                                                                              Condition Disclaimer                                                                                              

Seller reserves the right to end this listing at anytime should the vehicle no longer be available for sale. Professional pre-purchase inspections are welcome but must be made before the auction ends. Please ask any question before bidding. We have described the above mentioned vehicle to the best of our ability. However. with all pre-owned automobiles. the condition is subjective. so we recommend that the potential buyer inspect this motor-car if possible.

All vehicles are sold in "AS IS" condition. All inspections must be done prior to delivery.

We reserve the right to end the auction at any time if still within the obligation of Ebays auction rules.

                                                                                                                                                                                              Transportation                                                                                              

We will happily assist with worldwide transportation at the buyer's expense.  We can help greatly with transport arrangements both by land and sea.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Gallery                                                                                                                                               Please view the remaining images below.                                                                                               Premium Template                           copyright 2016 hdauctions. com                                                                

Also published at eBay.co.uk

Want to buy this car?