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1950 Jaguar XK-120

Sir William Lyons and his staff designed the world's first high-volume twin-cam engine during the Second World War. When peacetime resumed, a short-wheelbase chassis wearing a rakish two-seat roadster body was married with the new engine. When the world beheld the XK120 at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show, one journalist commented '… all preconceived notions as to what was a series-production sports car disappeared overnight.' What had initially been intended as a display car, however, was rushed into series production due to its enthusiastic reviews.

1950 Jaguar XK-120 photo
Steel bodied Roadster
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The XK120 was conceived and constructed in but a few months and the William Lyons design is often considered one of the most beautiful shapes ever to grace a motor car. Jaguar had expected to sell no more than 200 examples in the first year, so the car was conceived as a coach-built car with an aluminum paneled structure.

The Jaguar XK120, clothed in hand-hammered aluminum body panels over ash body framing quickly overshadowed the saloons that had formerly comprised much of Jaguar's business. To prepare the XK120 for mass production, Lyons order tooling for steel variants. In conjunction with the Pressed Steel Fisher Company, a new all-steel paneled body was developed with a similar design, differing only in minor external details. After 242 aluminum-bodied examples were built, the steel variants entered the market in the mid-1950. 182 alloy-bodied examples had left-hand drive configuration.

The elegance of the XK120 was quickly reinforced by its performance, proven by its competition success and a top speed run of 126.594 miles per hour (thus proving the '120' designation was no overstatement). With the hood and windscreen detached and an under-tray fitted, the XK120 was capable of 132 mph. Star American racing driver and eventual World Driving Champion Phil Hill successfully campaigned an alloy XK120 Roadster in 1950, concluding the season at the inaugural Pebble Beach Cup race of November 5, 1950. Even with the loss of the car's brakes and clutch, Hill was able to navigate the car to a first-place finish.

1950 Jaguar XK-120 photo
Alloy Roadster
Chassis #: 670138
View info and history
The heart of the XK120 was the XK engine, initially intended for Jaguar's forthcoming Mark VII saloon. The 3.4-liter 'six' boasted twin overhead camshafts running in an aluminum-alloy cylinder head, seven main bearings, and a maximum output of 160bhp. It was installed in a shortened chassis of the simultaneously announced Mark V saloon and equipped with William Heynes' torsion bar independent front suspension.

Coupe and drophead coupe body styles followed, along with the Special Equipment (SE) package which boosted power to 180bhp.

The XK120 was produced until 1954 and would prove to be the most popular of the XK series, with 12,078 examples built.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2021

Related Reading : Jaguar XK120 History

The Jaguar XK120 was designed to be a prestigious vehicle and produced in low numbers. The designation 120 represented the vehicles top speed of 120 miles-per-hour. At the time, it was the fastest production car in the world. The British automotive industry was greatly influenced by World War II. Many manufacturers went out of business due to the lack of funds, fuel and supply shortages, or....
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1950 Jaguar XK-120 Vehicle Profiles

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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$870-$3,950
1950 XK-120
$3,950-$11,000
1950 Jaguar XK-120 Base Price : $3,950

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Other 1950 Jaguar Models
$3,755 - $3,855

XK120

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 160.00hp
$3,945 - $3,945
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 160.00hp
$3,950 - $3,950
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 150.00hp
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 160.00hp
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 180.00hp
$3,855 - $4,000
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 180.00hp
$4,050 - $4,080
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID.
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.00 CID., 160.00hp
6 cyl., 210.00 CID., 250.00hp
$4,040 - $4,255
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 160.00hp
6 cyl., 210.00 CID., 180.00hp
$3,350 - $4,000
102.00 in.
6 cyl., 210.04 CID., 160.00hp

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