1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster
Registration no. NYF 312
Chassis no. S661090
Engine no. W9059-8S

Conceived and constructed in but a few months, the XK120 debuted at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show where the stunning-looking roadster caused a sensation. The car's heart was, of course, the fabulous XK engine, a 3.4-litre 'six' embodying the best of modern design, boasting twin overhead camshafts running in an aluminium-alloy cylinder head, seven main bearings and a maximum output of 160bhp. Jaguar's five 1950s Le Mans winners all used this superb engine, which would power all the company's cars for years to come.

The XK120 set new standards of comfort, roadholding and performance for British sports cars and, in keeping with the Jaguar tradition, there was nothing to touch it at the price. Coupé and drophead coupé versions followed, and for customers who found the standard car too slow, there was the Special Equipment (SE) package which boosted power to 180bhp. With either engine and regardless of the type of bodywork, the XK120 was a genuine 120mph car capable of sustained high-speed cruising.

This Jaguar XK120 SE roadster was manufactured on 2nd July 1953 and sold to its first owner H J Ryman Ltd of Great Portland Street, London W11 via Henlys, London. It is one of only 1,175 right-hand drive examples out of a total of 7,612 XK120 open roadsters built. The original colour scheme was cream with biscuit/red interior and fawn convertible hood. Nothing else is known of the XK's early history although there is an affixed plaque stating that the car was restored by Swallow Engineering of Basildon, Essex, and four others recording its attendance at International XK Days in the 1980s. There are photographs on file of the car undergoing restoration and of it 'before paintwork' (undated).

It late owner purchased 'NYF 312' on 4th June 2014 from a widow selling on behalf of her husband, who had been a motor industry professional. The late owner died in October 2016 and the car was left to his wife, who gifted it to her daughter (the current vendor) on 28th November 2017. We are advised that Spax adjustable shock absorbers and new wheel cylinders are fitted at the front. The car has been kept garaged since its acquisition in 2014 and SORN'd for the last few years. Accompanying paperwork includes a BMIHT Certificate; DVLA documents; a V5C Registration Certificate; and Oselli receipts for work done following 'inspection and report' when the car was purchased in 2014.