Bring A Trailer NO RESERVE auction preview: Beautiful colors and condition, late example, featured in many publications.1954 Jaguar XK120 OTSChassis No. – 675728Engine No. – F3129-8Exterior Color – Pastel BlueInterior Color – BlueEngine – 3.4 Liter in-line sixTransmission – 4-speed manualCurrent Miles – 61,051 miles (TMU)Current Owner – Purchased in 2019 with 58,713 miles General HistoryJust three years after the end of World War II, Jaguar revealed the XK120. With wartime austerity still impacting much of the UK, the XK120 caused quite a stir. With its stunning styling, sophisticated mechanical specification, and unapologetic performance, the XK120 was nothing short of a revelation. The elegant and sporty XK120 not only boosted morale among the weary UK population, it demonstrated to the world that Britain had both the technical capacity and design excellence to deliver a beautiful performance car. Although originally intended to be a concept car showcasing Jaguar’s remarkable new twin-cam inline 6-cylinder engine, the breathtaking styling and genuine 120 mph performance of the XK120, coupled with an affordable price, captured the imagination of the world. Sales were so strong that Jaguar had to reengineer the car for mass production to meet the significant demand. This effort not only improved output, it also allowed Jaguar to expand their market share exporting to North America and other parts of the world. The XK120 set new standards of comfort, handling, and performance for British sports cars. There was nothing that could touch the XK120 at the remarkably affordable price. History of this Jaguar XK 120According to the Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate issued in October 2016, this XK120 OTS was manufactured June 3, 1954 and dispatched to North America June 11, 1954. The original distributor, Hornburg Jaguar in Los Angeles, sold the car to the first owner, Russel Loer, Los Angeles, CA. In 1957, Jaguar historian and XK120 Registrar for the Classic Jaguar Association Bruce Carnachan of Glendale, CA, purchased the car from the original owner with 19,000 miles. Carnachan, a former Air-Force gunner sergeant and later California Highway Patrol worker, had known of the car since new, greatly admired it and hoped to one day purchase it. Determined to retain the originality of the car, Carnachan proceeded to care for it throughout decades of remarkable ownership, participating in automotive events where he would earn the moniker “Mr. Jaguar” among his friends and enthusiasts. Over the years, this XK120 has been featured in multiple automotive publications including a 1974 Motor Trend “Retrospect”, the cover of Car Collector 1979, and again in 1981 as a Road & Track “Salon” car. In 1981, the car showed 119,000 miles, still remaining “absolutely original” as stated by legendary automotive journalist Tony Hogg in his detailed Salon article. Throughout his six decades of ownership, Carnachan performed much of the maintenance himself, winning local concours awards, and participating in multiple rallies despite his advancing years. In 1992, the car participated in the Monterey Historic Races and continued to be shown in 2006, 2009, and 2012 as documented by dashboard plaques still affixed to the car. Carnachan’s exhaustive and highly detailed knowledge of XK120s is owed in part to the originality of this car and to Carnachan’s pioneering advocacy of authentic preservation combined with decades of impressive stewardship. In 2019, in preparation for consignment, Jaguar experts determined the original twin-cam head needed to be replaced. The difficult decision was made to remove the original head, preserve it, and locate a factory original head as a replacement. A suitable head within the same month of manufacture was prepared, installed, tested, and dialed in after reassembly. This work was performed by highly regarded Jaguar specialist Steve Gordon of Vintage Auto Service. Later in 2019, Fantasy Junction sold this car to the current owner who drove the car approximately 2,500 miles. Services included fluid changes, along with clutch replacement, flywheel resurfacing, new engine and transmission mounts, a new aluminum radiator, and frontal body damage repairs.Today, the condition of this XK120 continues to reveal the ongoing care and preservation in keeping with Carnachan’s legacy. Retaining a combination of properly serviced components and original details, this XK120 is a beautiful and honest artifact of elegant motoring from a bygone era. The body is straight with excellent panel fit and operation. The paint combines older original areas and recently refinished front sections blended at the doors. There is some checking, some touched up areas at the rear of the car, but otherwise quite satisfying. The chrome is in good to very good condition including the grille, bumpers, nicely polished headlight trim, and detailed fog lamps. The windshield frame shows some expected pitting at the base, but good glass and wind wings. Emblems and minor are in excellent condition. A set of correctly sized Michelin 185/16 R400 tires are mounted on chrome plated wire wheels featuring dual-eared knockoffs, beautifully accented by painted red drum brakes, which add a purposeful competition touch to the car. The interior is a welcoming blend of original components and properly sourced materials, which have been replaced only as needed. The seats are correctly tailored with proper piping and material, correctly pleated, but gently relaxed by years of enjoyable driving. Carpeting and door panels reveal varying material age evident in range from the driver’s side door pull to the replacement floor mats, which cover older replacement carpets. The dash and instrumentation are adorned by beautifully detailed markings, crisp needles, and richly contrasting dial faces. The odometer currently reads 61,051 miles, consistent with having rolled over once since new. The steering wheel, switches, gearshift lever, and emergency brake handle are all in very good condition with a few signs of age consistent with the rest of the car’s presentation. The trunk is very much in keeping with the interior, sporting a tidy spare tire storage area, wire wheel spare, tools, and jack, all of which appear to retain the preserved factory original finishes. Under the hood, the matching number engine block and engine compartment feature recent freshening and correct components. The current twin-cam head is a correct match to the year and month of production, and the original matching number head is included with the car. The polished aluminum castings are nicely hued and properly detailed, while correct factory hardware further completes the engine compartment with integrity and refinement befitting the quality of the overall car. An aftermarket aluminum radiator has been installed as an added benefit to cooling. The undercarriage reflects the finishes of a car that has never been restored, merely conscientiously maintained since new in a dry climate. The car starts easily, settles into a smooth idle, and has excellent carburetion. Throttle response is crisp when driven more sportingly with a docile manner when navigating local roads. The clutch engages positively, and the gearbox has a nice mechanical feel with well-defined gates and effective synchromesh. Brakes are easy to modulate and operate symmetrically, while steering and suspension are effective and free of slop. In short, the entire car has a harmonious, coherent feel that allows the driver to focus on the pleasures of vintage sports car driving. This Jaguar is accompanied by weather equipment (center zip tonneau cover and side curtains), car cover and bag, tire changing tools, tools and tool roll, various spare parts in a wood case, a scale model XK120 finishing in pastel blue, the original matching numbers head, and copies of the various publications in which the car has been featured. This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire an important and historically well-documented Jaguar XK120 roadster. Honest preparation and correct presentation, this Jaguar offers the next fortunate enthusiast an iconic sports car ready for another enjoyable chapter in vintage motoring.
NOTE: Please note that at some point in the early history of this car, the VIN for the chassis and chassis plate were stamped with the additional letter character "S". The current title also carries the letter S as part of the VIN.