1950 XK120 Alloy Roadster LHD
- One of only 240 Alloy-bodied XK120s
- Mille Miglia Eligible
- Four-year Concours Restoration
- First in Class: Warren Classic Concours 2017
- FIVA Certification
This superb Jaguar XK120 is one of only 240 alloy-bodied XK120 OTS produced between 1948-50. The car was completed on 13 February 1950 and exported by the factory on 2 March to CAMAV, the Venezuelan Jaguar distributor in Caracas.
Although it spend most of its life in Venezuela, and is believed to have some local competition history, very little is known of its time in South America. It is also thought to have been laid-up for a long time, following a relatively minor electrical problem, until it was discovered by Spanish dealer, Juan Garcia Maracay. He exported the car to Spain in early 2003, and from there the XK120 was sold and shipped to a dealer in Texas.
In 2004 a US enthusiast, Victor Jacobs of Dayton, Ohio (who already owned a metallic blue alloy XK120) purchased the car and despatched it to New Zealand for a complete restoration by Upper Classics of Christchurch who have a international reputation for the quality of their work on classic Jaguars.
Work began in 2006 with the brief to produce a concours-winning example, and as such every component was either replaced or restored. The work is fully documented in a book of photos and digitally, and as a testament to the quality of the work that the car was purchased in 2010 by marque specialist JD Classics of Chelmsford, who retained Upper Classics to complete the restoration after the owner sadly died. It was finished the following year, after a four year restoration.
Exported to the UK and registered 398 YUB on 1 January, 2011 JD Classics kept the XK in its own collection before selling the car to Mr Ewan Cresswell in September 2013. He kept the car for two years and used it sparingly, before consigning it to leading classic car broker Gregor Fisken. It from was Fiskens that the current owner purchased the car in 2015 while looking for a suitable entry for the Mille Miglia.
Given the quality of the restoration the owner decided to show the car, instead of campaign it, and it was entered in the Warren Castle Classic and Super Car Show of September 2017, where it won First in Concours in the Jaguar Class. Having been used sparingly since it is still in concours condition but with its FIVA papers it would make the ideal entry for the next Mille Miglia. It is currently fitted with competition bucket seats (but retains the originals) and has full wet weather equipment.
In addition to having a Jaguar Heritage Certificate, the car is mentioned in XK Data registry and ‘The Jaguar XK120 in the Southern Hemisphere’ by John Elmgreen and Terry McGrath.
A matching numbers example; exceptionally well sorted and in superb condition, this exquisite XK120 Alloy roadster is arguably the finest example available today.
£POA