1954 Jaguar XK120SE Roadster

For sale by auction on Saturday 12 March 2016 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Jaguar XK120 was manufactured between 1948 and 1954;
Jaguar's first sports car since the SS100. which ceased production
in 1940. The XK120 was launched in roadster form at the 1948 London
Motor Show as a show car for the new Jaguar XK engine. It caused a
sensation thus persuading Jaguar founder and design boss William
Lyons to put the car into production. The '120' in its name
referred to its 120mph top speed which made the XK120 the world's
fastest standard production car at the time of its launch. It was
available in two open versions; first as the roadster then also as
a drophead coupé from 1953 and also as a closed. or 'fixedhead'
coupé from 1951. With an alloy cylinder head and twin side-draft SU
carburettors. the double overhead-cam 3. 4-Litre straight-six XK
engine was comparatively advanced for mass-produced units of its
time. This same basic design of the XK engine. later modified into
3. 8-Litre and 4. 2-Litre versions. survived late into the 1980s.

This extremely desirable SE spec XK120. presented in its
original colour combination of British racing green with burgundy
leather trim comes complete with increased power. stiffer
suspension and dual exhaust system. Having recently undergone a
full body-off restoration to a high standard. this example presents
beautifully and the colour combination. paired with the SE spec
makes for an extremely desirable roadster. Although the engine was
running perfectly well. the decision was made to replace the head
gasket- and all other gaskets- before a full engine service and
complete engine detail. The vehicle was pampered with new brakes. br/>new fuel tank. fuel and water pumps. hoses and lines. not
forgetting the new chrome alloys and carpets. all carried out when
originally imported in 2014.

The current vendor also went to the great pain of tracking down
the previous owner in the United States in order to justify some of
the provenance and mileage. To his delight- and after a lot of hard
work- he tracked down Mr. Joe Rogers of Walnut Creek. California
who is now 80 years old and not deceased as first thought. Mr.
Rogers informed the vendor of his and the car's illustrious
history. where amazingly at one point in his life. he claimed to be
homeless. stating that despite this. the car always had a garage
(presumably with him sleeping in or beside it). He married three
times whilst with the car and called it his 'one true love' which
he had purchased in 1959 with- we are told- a genuine 17. 00 miles
having been painted red. following the ownership of a racing
driver. The car has always been looked after fastidiously and all
parts remained as original. Having been repatriated in 2014. this
XK120 is offered with original letters to the then-owner Mr.
Rogers. log books and US titles within the history file. a Jaguar
Heritage certificate and recent receipts and photos from the
extensive restoration.

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