1949 Jaguar XK-120 3.4 Alloy Roadster

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Description

(SOLD) Classic Showcase is pleased to offer one of the rarest classic Jaguars available in the world today, the Alloy-bodied XK-120 Roadster. The car offered here, chassis number 670056, was the 56th Alloy Roadster built, and it is one of one hundred eighty-four delivered with left-hand drive, out of a total of 242 Alloy-bodied cars produced. A truly fine example of the rarest of all early patterned Aluminum bodied cars with steel disc wheels, and distinctive rear mudguard spats. The roadster was completed on December 14, 1949, and later dispatched on January 3, 1950 to Hoffman Jaguar in New York, N.Y. The roadster stayed in the U.S. until the late 1960s, and was then imported to France by a well-known Jaguar collector who participated in the 50th Anniversary of Le Mans with this very car. The roadster was then sold in 1978 with the intent of being exhibited at the Montlhéry Jaguar Museum. Since then, Jaguar professionals performed a fully documented comprehensive no-expense spared bare metal restoration to the roadster, where the car was dismantled and prepared for painting. All mechanical systems were gone through by Jaguar professionals, restoring components where necessary to ensure optimal performance. The roadster’s upholstery was completely renewed by Master Jaguar trimmers, who also paid great care in restoring the car’s soft top. A comprehensive file of documents, restoration photos, and receipts accompany the car, along with a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate to verify its authenticity. With only 17% of all Alloy roadsters produced to these specs, this example stands as a the archetypal and most desirable of the Alloy-bodies series of cars, and presents the serious Jaguar collector with a rarely afforded opportunity to own a coveted piece of Jaguar motor history.

History

While most contemporary observers of the Jaguar XK120 would be certain that it was born for greatness, it is surprising to consider that it was conceived and born as a limited-edition stopgap model. William Lyons assumed that the post-WWII fortune of his company, the recently re-named Jaguar Cars Ltd., would be made on the saloon cars that would sell so well in export markets, especially in the U.S. To that end, a new dual overhead-cam, six-cylinder, 160 horsepower engine was developed to power a new luxury sports four-door. As the new car was not yet ready, it was decided to launch the engine in a limited run of alloy-bodied roadsters. When shown at the 1948 Earl’s Court Motor Show, it created a sensation. Following a speed run on a Belgian highway in 1949, in which an XK120 ran 126 mph with its windshield on and 132 mph without, there was no doubt that this would become a regular production model. After 240 alloy cars were built, production was shifted to more easily manageable steel, which was now more widely available following post-war material shortages.

Authenticity