This is a beautiful XK120 with some very special features! We have here a 1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe, UK RHD, 1 of 294 made, finished in its factory colours of British Racing Green with Tan Leather interior and Black Soft Top! Our car has a known history from new and previous owners include a Spitfire Pilot! She has been nicely maintained by its previous owner of 16 years, with over £100k Invested, including a respray and retrim, and carries the perfect, valuable and transferable Registration Number "OLD 120"!!

'We claimed 120 mph (for the XK 120), a speed unheard of for a production car in those days' - William Heynes, Chief Engineer, Jaguar Cars.
Conceived and constructed in but a few months, the XK120 debuted at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show where the stunning-looking roadster caused a sensation, the resulting demand for what was then the world's fastest production car taking Jaguar by surprise. With orders rolling in apace, Jaguar had no choice but to think again about the XK120's method of construction. The work of Jaguar boss William Lyons himself and one of the most beautiful shapes ever to grace a motor car, the body had been conceived as a coachbuilt, aluminium panelled structure for the simple reason that Jaguar expected to sell no more than 200 XK120s in the first year! In conjunction with the Pressed Steel Fisher Company a new all-steel panelled body was developed, which retained the fabulous looks of the coachbuilt original while differing in minor external details. Beneath the skin the steel car was entirely different and it would take some 20 months of development before manufacture could begin.

The XK120's heart was, of course, the fabulous XK engine, which had been developed during the war and was intended for Jaguar's forthcoming MkVII saloon. A 3.4-litre 'six' embodying the best of modern design, it boasted twin overhead camshafts running in an aluminium-alloy cylinder head, seven main bearings and a maximum output of 160bhp. It went into a chassis that was essentially a shortened version of the simultaneously announced MkV saloon's, featuring William Heynes' torsion bar independent front suspension. Jaguar lost no time in demonstrating that the XK120's claimed top speed was no idle boast. In May 1949, on the Jabbeke to Aeltre autoroute, an example with its hood and side screens in place recorded a speed of 126mph and 132mph with the hood and windscreen detached and an under-tray fitted.

The XK120 set new standards of comfort, roadholding and performance for British sports cars and, in keeping with the Jaguar tradition, there was nothing to touch it at the price. Coupé and drophead coupé versions followed, the XK120 was a genuine 120mph car capable of sustained high-speed cruising. The XK120 produced until 1954 and would prove to be the most popular of the XK series, with 12,078 examples built, of which only 294 were right-hand drive dropheads like that offered here.

This elegant Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé was originally supplied by Henlys of North London, one of Jaguar's most prestigious period distributors and was registered in January 1954. The car underwent a comprehensive restoration in 1987 by the respected R. Vincent Coachworks of Ringwood and today is presented in the timeless combination of British Racing Green with a tan leather interior and a black hood, exactly how it left the factory! The restoration has matured well, albeit with a recent respray and retrim, with the car continuing to present exceptionally attractively while retaining an authentic character. The car is showing 33k miles on the clock and this has gradually increased from 24k Miles 40 years ago!

Mechanically, the XK120 is in a generally very good condition and offers an impressive appearance that is sure to appeal to enthusiasts and collectors alike. The previous owner bought the car in 2010 and have lavished money on it in his ownership, as well as chasing down the history of the car through the previous ownes. with the previous owner this XK benefitted from a comprehensive restoration by Winspeed Motor Sport Guildford which included new paint, new interior and a complete mechanical overhaul. THe cyliner head was replaced with a Fast Road B spec unit by Winspeed Motorsport. The XK120 remains one of Jaguar's most iconic and desirable post-war sportscars, combining graceful styling with exhilarating performance. This well-presented Drophead Coupé represents an excellent opportunity to acquire a highly usable example of one of Britain's greatest motoring legends with the added bonus of its famous and valuable Registration Number "OLD 120"