1953 Jaguar XK Roadster

Description


(866) 716-0365
(866) 716-0365
Vehicle Original VIN : FC339
View our eBay Store
Sign up for our Newsletter
1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster
Offered as a buy-it-now. Make us an offer!
This exceptional example is in spectacular condition in every respect having been the subject of a high quality cosmetic restoration by noted Restorer Wayne Carini. Prior to that the car had been completely mechanically restored. The car runs very, very well and is ready for long distance touring, but should really go collect a bunch of trophies first. Finished in a very rare and striking color combination and featuring the proper spats this XK 120 Roadster will provide years of driving and touring enjoyment to the lucky new owner. The car starts right up runs smoothly, shifts well stops well and is ready for the road. The car is accompanied by a nice set of factory tools and books, side curtains, and tonneau cover.
We have more photographs of this car, please click on any image to be taken to our full-size image list!
The Jaguar XK120 was manufactured by Jaguar between 1949 and 1954. It was the first post-war sports car from the marque, succeeding the SS 100 which ended production in 1940 with the start of the war in Britain. The XK120 was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show as a test bed and show vehicle to highlight the new XK engine. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded William Lyons to put it into production as a standard model. The first cars manufactured in 1948 and 1949 had hand built aluminum bodies on an ash frame. Jaguar built 240 of these alloy bodied cars prior to moving to a more mass production XK120 in order to meet the demand for this popular model. With the 1950 model year a production version had a steel pressed body with alloy doors, bonnet, and trunk skin. Other features included torsion bar front suspension, and a removable windscreen.
Power came from a DOHC.4 L straight six engine, Jaguar's famous XK engine. With an alloy cylinder head and twin side draft SU carbs, the XK engine was very advanced for a mass produced unit, developing 160 bhp with the standard 8:1 compression ratio. This same basic design of the XK engine was used in 3.8L and 4.2L versions into the late 1980s. The XK120 name referred to the vehicle's impressive 120 mph (193 km/h) top speed - even faster with the windscreen removed - and at the time of its launch it was the world's fastest standard production car.
It was available as a coupe (FHC or Fixed Head Coupe, introduced in 1951), convertible (DHC or Drop Head Coupe, 1953), or the original roadster (OTS or Open Two Seater). An XK120 FHC can claim the only import win in NASCAR when it won NASCAR's first road race at Linden Airport, New Jersey, June 13th, 1954 with Al Keller at the wheel. The Roadster had a very light weight canvas top and removable side curtains screwed to the doors, which had no external handle - to open them you reached through the screen to pull a cord on the inside. The DHC or Drop Head Coupe had a padded top and roll up windows. Both the FHC and DHC had an elegant wood veneer dash, whereas the roadster's was leather. All models were manufactured with spats to cover the back wheel arch which enhanced the streamlined look, but when optional (from 1951) wire wheels were fitted, the spats had to be removed to make room for the hub spinners. There was also an M version (called SE for Special Equipment in England) which included increased power, stiffer suspension, dual exhaust, and wire wheels.
Our Ebay Policies:
Significant Cars is one of the largest Collector Car Brokers and Dealers in the Country. Since 2003 we have worked hard to "change the way collector cars find new homes" by providing unparralleled web presentation of the cars we are representing. Most of our cars have over 30 photographs, and these can be viewed by visiting our website (our eBay handle dot com), or by clicking on any of the photographs in the black background area of our EBay listings. We welcome your call with any questions about any of our listings at anytime at 800-837-9902 and certainly encourage your personal inspection of any of the cars we are selling-just call us and we will be happy to set up an appointment for your to see and test drive the car.
We realize that eBay is a difficult venue to properly evaluate an item as complex as an automobile. You can feel secure bidding with confidence on any of our cars since we guarantee your satisfaction! Should you win the auction and come to see the car and decide you do not want it for any reason, no negative feedback will result, any deposit you may have paid will be cheerfully refunded.
Description images and copy © Significant Cars, Inc.