enabled the car to achieve 120 miles per hour, hence the name. It must be said that the lines of the bronze-coloured roadster (equipped with its sheet metal wheels and famous spats) which was unveiled on the Jaguar stand at the London show are particularly refined, carved by the wind, with its inimitable V-shaped windscreen. Chassis #660 001 has been doing the rounds of the shows and is seducing British sports car enthusiasts, especially Americans. Even more so when the firm’s boss, William Lyons, launched the car in a series of speed records, or when it did a one-two for its first official race. The first 240 cars were built, like the prototype, in aluminium, before cost considerations forced the factory to build steel bodies (the doors remained in aluminium). In 1951, the sublime roadster was joined by a coupé, a design that completed the magnifying of William Lyons’ design. After 6 years on the market and 12,061 cars produced, the venerable British firm replaced the XK 120 with the 140, a more modern and bourgeois evolution of the concept. The car illustrated here has a 1949 registration, but its serial number suggests that it is more
likely to be a factory-built example from autumn 1951. It is a steel-bodied version, with its original engine, Moss gearbox and ENV axle. Its steel wheels and spats, as well as its black dress and cream interior, give it a proud appearance, reinforced by the inimitable patina of a car on the road. Its owner bought it in 1998: a great Jaguar enthusiast and a prominent member of the French Jaguar club, he wanted to own a classic Jaguar in each of the XK engine sizes, with this 120 ticking the «3.4 litre engine» box. Since 1998, our enthusiast, a great driver and user of his cars, has covered thousands of kilometres at the wheel of this 120, giving it the benefit of regular and attentive care, and minor improvements that greatly contribute to the pleasure of driving this iconic Jaguar. These include the fitting of an electric fan and expansion tank to overcome any heating problems, the purchase of a new lead-free cylinder head and the welcome addition of a steering damper. All these little extras make this XK 120 one of the most pleasant cars we have ever driven.
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