1949 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster
- Colour
- 'Blue Sheen'
Chassis 670005 is the first of only 240 alloy-bodied XK 120 roadsters dispatched to the United States, leaving the Coventry factory on 17 August 1949 in the unique, non-standard colour Blue Sheen — the only XK 120 originally finished in this shade. Imported by New York distributor Max Hoffman, it served as the official parade vehicle at the 1949 Watkins Glen Grand Prix weekend. After several decades of private ownership, a comprehensive restoration by JK Restorations of Oswego, Illinois (2005–2008) returned the car to its original specification, after which it accumulated multiple perfect-score concours awards and set a JCNA slalom record.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$357,000
- 1949 →Private saleAustin Jamespartial documentation
New York-based owner who acquired the car around the time of the Watkins Glen event, either just before or during the occasion.
- 1949-08-17 → 1949Factory deliveryMax Hoffmanfull documentation
Prominent New York importer who received the car as the first XK 120 destined for the US market; brought it to Watkins Glen shortly after taking delivery.
- 1957 → 1985Acquisition unknownBrockman familypartial documentation
Held the car for roughly three decades; when the vehicle was eventually found it was complete but required significant restoration work.
- 2008 →Acquisition unknownEast Coast collectorpartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough restoration by JK Restorations of Oswego, Illinois, completed mid-2008, and has maintained the car in excellent condition since.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDonald Batchelderpartial documentation
Succeeded Austin James in the ownership chain; no dates recorded for this tenure.
Competition
- 1949Watkins Glen Grand PrixOfficial parade vehicle
The car served as the ceremonial parade vehicle before the main race at the second running of the event, rather than competing outright.
- 2009Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
First public exhibition appearance following completion of the restoration.
- 2009JCNA Concours ChampionshipJCNA Biennial Challenge ChampionshipConcours Champion, Class C02
Held in San Antonio, Texas; the car claimed the top award in its designated champion class.
- 2009Jaguar Club of Florida ConcoursBest of Show, Best of Class, perfect score of 100 points
Awarded both top honors at this regional club concours event.
- 2009Suncoast Jaguar Club Concours1st Place Champion Class, perfect score of 100 points
Second perfect-score result achieved in the same calendar year.
- 2009JCNA Concours ChampionshipJCNA Concours Championship Season1st Place Slalom Class B; season average score of 99.99
Also claimed the fastest recorded slalom time in JCNA history for the 1949–1961 XK class, surpassing the previous record from 1997.
- 2010JCNA Concours ChampionshipJCNA Concours Championship Season1st Place Slalom Class B
Repeated the slalom class victory from the prior season.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2005RestorationJK Restorations
A thorough, cost-unrestricted full restoration carried out between October 2005 and June 2008, returning the car to its factory-original Blue Sheen exterior over a matching two-tone blue leather interior.
JK Restorations of Oswego, Illinois is described as the leading Jaguar restoration specialist in the United States; work spanned approximately two and a half years.
- —Maintenance
At some point before the restoration, the car was assessed and found to be complete though in need of comprehensive work.
No date recorded; described as the state in which the car was discovered, likely prior to 2005.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.