1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster,Matching numbers 3.4 DOHC inline 6 cylinder engine

1953 Jaguar XK Description

1953 Jaguar XK-120 Roadster

MotoeXotica Classic Cars is proud to present our beautifully presented 1953 Jaguar XK-120 Roadster with some fascinating history. This XK-120 was originally owned by Doctor Eugene Foote (1879-1979) of Hastings Nebraska. Dr. Foote was a physician of great reputation and helped to provide Hastings, Nebraska with an outstanding reputation as a center of quality health care. In 1974 Dr. Foote received a letter from the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, the President acknowledged Dr. Foote for his services to the people of Nebraska and the United States. President Nixon in his letter referred to Dr. Foote as a legend in the American medical community. Outside of his medical career Dr. Foote was a known traveler and adventurer whether he was tracking a Bengal Tiger through the jungles of India, or lions on the plains of Africa, fishing for rainbow trout in the Cache la Poudre River in Colorado or studying with the world’s leading eye surgeons. Dr. Foote had a well known fine taste for fast sports cars and fast airplanes, he even helped local detectives rescue a police officer who was taken hostage by bank bandits by using his airplane to catch them successively in the neighboring state of Kansas! He was “Indiana Jones” with a medical bag!

At the age of 92 it is understood that Dr. Foote gifted the XK120 (nicknamed “Lady Mary”) to his son Dr. Charles Mel Foote, Charles kept the Jaguar until 1979 and shortly after his father passed away he sold the XK to to a well known collector and fellow pilot in Branson, MO, where it remained in his collection for the next 37 years (copy of the title included)! The XK was well maintained and stored for the next few decades and away from the elements. Recently the XK was refreshed with outstanding care and she now runs and growls down the road just like the days of Dr. Foote’s ownership! What a excellent XK120 with a great piece of American history to go along with it! Included with a digital copy of the biography A Hundred Year Adventure: The life and Exploits of Eugene Clair Foote.

Fast, stunning, and successful on the race track, the XK-120 was the ultimate production sports car of the 1950s! Car enthusiasts were enamored with this creation, as 12,078 XK120s were sold. In October 1953 Jaguar shattered the world’s speed record for stock production car on a measured-mile course, a factory-modified Jaguar XK120M attained a speed of 172.41 mph.This far-surpassed Jaguar’s wildest expectations.

The XK-120 was launched in open two-seater or (US) roadster form at the 1948 London Motor Show as a test bed and show car for the new Jaguar XK engine. The display car was the first prototype, chassis number 670001. It looked almost identical to the production cars except that the straight outer pillars of its windscreen would be curved on the production version. The roadster caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The “120” in the name referred to the aluminum car’s 120 mph top speed, which made it the world’s fastest production car at the time of its launch.

Finished in classic and extremely desirable Old English White paint job that shows nicely with only minor imperfections such as crazing in the lacquer paint from age. The extremely rare optional factory white vinyl hard top is in very good condition with the rear window free of yellowing and any scratches that we could find. Included with the purchase is the optional factory side curtains to complete the car. Front and rear bumpers have an excellent fit and finish that show well. The headlights and taillights are in very good condition with no hazing or cracks. The original equipment wheels show a little marring but do show very well and they have that right British patina that we love to see on these 50’s Jaguars.

Inside, the deep red seats looks extremely well for the age and have no major rips or tears. The matching red carpet shows nice throughout the interior with an original appearance. Overall the interior looks great and the original Smith gauges look excellen, however there is some slight weathering on the dash top. The door panels and dashboard, are matched perfectly the exterior of the car and look fantastic. The original equipment steering wheel is in great condition, however, the horn is inoperable. The original soft top was showing it’s age so we had a new top black professionally installed and it looks excellent on this roadster.

This nicely represented Jaguar comes equipped with a numbers matching #W80928 dual SU carbureted 160hp/195lb.ft 3.4L DOHC Inline 6 cylinder engine, 4 speed manual transmission, rear wheel drive, rear fender skirts, large hydraulic wheel drum brakes, torsion bar independent front suspension to a live rear axle on leaf springs. U.S. market only rear fender skirts (“Spats”) with 16 inch original equipment steel wheels have the white exterior matching full hub caps are wrapped in performance Goodyear radials. In the boot you will find a full set of period correct tools and spare.

Rarely will you get the opportunity to own a very well presented US import Jaguar XK-120 with such fascinating historical ownership! Definitely a must have for a collector who really prides their collection with excellent and remarkable “conversation pieces” such as this XK! GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

Current mileage on the odometer shows 28636 It is sold as is on a clean & clear mileage exempt Missouri title.

VIN:673866

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