This Open Two Seater, aside from the engine, transmission and altered dash, still has many of it's original and desirable features still intact. Among others, the entire, desirable early XK120 braking system (unique to the early steel body and alloy XK120’s) with it’s manually adjustable front brakes and glass brake fluid reservoir is 100% present. The original and unaltered & unaltered ENV rear axle with it’s original fluid level dipstick and lever shock absorbers is intact. As mentioned, the SH gearbox and the original and rare flat bottom bell housing also goes with the car. If this early OTS was to be, and should be, taken back to it’s original specifications an early style “studless” XK engine could be mated to the original gearbox and bellhousing that is present. Add the appropriate dash and its gauges and the car would be extremely close to the specifications the vehicle left Coventry in October 1951.
Extremely important is the fact that the original brass data plate has never been off the car along with the four rivets that Jaguar installed at the factory. In addition, the factory riveted body number tag is still on the dash assembly.The chassis stamping on the left side of the chassis rail is extremely sharp and in high relief (unlike many) and matches the clear title in my name.This assures an easy transaction with any customs department outside the United States.
As mentioned, the car could easily be put back to original. In 2013 I purchased a full wiring harness from Painless and my brother re-wired the entire car with a new fuse/ relay box and very nice connectors throughout. I machined a new aluminum dash panel and put new gauges in. The engine is an early '60s 327/300, It smokes a little and leaks some oil. The trans is a TH350 automatic that works very well. The original 4 spd trans for the car (numbers matching) is included in the sale. To my knowledge, this car has never been wrecked. There are two small rusted (repaired) places behind the seats, inside the car. When it was painted in the late nineties there was some filler used to fill some small dents, mostly around the front bumpers There was NO rust repaired on the body at all except the two small spots behind the seats which were simply covered by pop riveted sheet metal. Pictures upon request. This car was inspected thoroughly this past summer by a very respected and reputable Jaguar expert from Michigan. He was very surprised at how clean and solid this car is. The battery boxes, rocker panels, boot and the rest of the car are all original and nearly rust free.“Last, but certainly not least, although this car in it's present color scheme is beautiful and very useful as-is, the original livery of this XK120 was absolutely gorgeous. It has been authenticated for this XK by the eminent Australian Jaguar XK historian John Elmgreen as follows: this example left the factory in the spectacular color of Silver. This metallic color was rarely ordered when it was available and was then discontinued altogether when Jaguar moved locations to Browns Lane in 1951-1952. I believe the color of the hood/convertible top was Fawn. The interior color complimented the exterior color superbly and was a color only offered only on the earliest XK120 OTS’s. During that early period two-tone leather seats and interior trim was available as a standard choice and this XK was accordingly trimmed in Duo-Blue. That was a gray-blue leathercontrasted against a darker blue. Incidentally, generally speaking only the Open Two Seaters of this early period was offered this beautiful two tone color scheme. The Fixed Head Coupés did not offer it and the Drophead Coupés that followed in 1953 did not offer it either. If a Jaguar aficionado wants to own an early example XK120 OTS with nearly all the visual attributes of a price prohibitive Alloy XK120, this XK will fit the bill. Because of the similarities to the ultra desirable but price prohibitive Alloy XK120 OTS’s these early steel bodied cars are on the radar of XK collectors to own. Yes, it is not an original number’s matching engine but it is also very affordable for what it is. In 12 months when the world economy changes for the better, look for these cars to be once again expensive blue chip investments.”
Thanks for looking.