1953 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé

680921roadUnited Kingdom

Engine: 3.8L DOHC inline-six, twin SU carburetors, 265 bhp at 5,500 rpm (rebuilt replacement unit)
Colour: Black

A 1953 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe, one of approximately 2,678 produced between 1951 and 1954, finished in black over black with matching black leather and restored burled walnut interior trim. The car has remained within two families since new and has been fitted with a rebuilt 3.8-litre XK engine in place of the original 3.4-litre unit. A marque specialist completed a recent round of restoration work encompassing upholstery, exterior, interior, and engine bay detailing, leaving the car in well-presented driving condition.

Ownership

2024-01-25Auction sale
Estimate US$110,000 – US$140,000
Bonhams catalogue lot →
1953 →Factory delivery
Original first family owner
partial documentation
Part of a two-family ownership chain stretching from new; precise dates of transition to the second family are not stated.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Second family owner
partial documentation
Second of two families in a continuous ownership history; the 3.8-litre replacement engine was fitted at some point during this broader ownership period.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Jaguar Club of Los Angeles member
partial documentation
Recent custodian who originally intended to carry out remaining restoration personally, then engaged a marque specialist instead; oversaw interior refurbishment and mechanical detailing.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Engine rebuild
The original 3.4-litre XK unit was replaced with a rebuilt 3.8-litre XK engine to improve performance.
Engine number VA1851-8 is noted as a replacement unit; catalogue cross-references 'see text'.
—Restoration
Marque specialist
A marque specialist carried out comprehensive finishing work covering upholstery renewal, exterior and interior detailing, and engine bay tidying; minimal mileage has been accumulated since completion.
Work was commissioned by the most recent owner after he decided not to undertake the remaining restoration himself.

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