Jaguar XK120 OTS
£120,000 Low mileage and extensive restoration work make this early Jaguar XK120 a fine example of its type,
With a chassis number of 660358 (production started at 660001), this is an early steel-bodied XK120. Manufacture of the ash and aluminium-bodied cars ended in May 1950, and this steel successor appeared on 24 November 1950. Its mileage of 29,976 is genuine, according to paperwork and research by its most recent owner. In 2008 it was bought by an Italian collector, and returned to the UK around 2015. A Jaguar Classic mechanical restoration was then carried out, with cosmetic renovation soon after. Its conditon remains excellent.
Unlike many restored XK120S, it retains its original steel wheels which are clad in very good Avon Turbo Steel 185/R16 93V radials from 2015. Plenty of life is left in them. The car still has its removable rear spats, but they weren’t in place during our test. The brightwork is looking great, but a few bars in the front grille are a little loose. The chassis has been comprehensively undersealed, and an ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano) bumper badge is a nice reference to the car’s time in Italy.
The original red leather interior was swapped for a new black one with green piping in the mid-seventies. It doesn’t look its age though, with only very light cracking – although the driver’s bolster has a little more wear. However, it’s still all very smart. The carpets are almost as-new, and the doorcards are well preserved, but their leather straps show signs of quite a lot of use. The instrument panel has slightly loose trim at its bottom, but otherwise no issues. All the dials function properly save for the clock, often faulty in Jags of this era.
With the bills from Jaguar’s 2015/2016 overhaul totalling almost £17k, it’s no surprise that this XK120 remains in firstclass mechanical order. Cosmetically, the engine bay is tidy, although the exhaust manifold has tarnished somewhat, and there are a few marks in the spark plug gulley between the cam covers. Aside from an electric fan installed ahead of the radiator, the bay looks largely standard, with reassuring signs of pedantry. The fluids are at the right levels, and healthy shades.
With only a few thousand miles since its mechanical rebuild, the XK120 still drives well, although we were made aware that the fuel pump occasionally needs a tap to stir it into life before starting. Once the engine is running, it does so with a smooth, steady idle. When underway, the car is a delight, with plenty of power on tap and no missing or hesitation. There’s very little slop in the steering and it all feels taut through bends. The clutch is weighty but it feels right for an XK120, and the gearbox does its job effectively, although it does take practice to master swift changes. The brakes stop the car quickly and effectively, without any diving to either side.
This is a prime example of an early XK120, with extremely low but verifiable mileage. Considerable work has been carried out recently, so the new custodian can just drive and enjoy it. £120,000 is a lot, but in this case it seems well justified.