1950 Jaguar XK-120 Steel bodied Roadster

Jaguar has long enjoyed a storied history of dashing styling, high performance and memorable racing victories. The venerable British brand was founded by Sir William Lyons and William Walmsley, two-wheel enthusiasts actually, as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922. In 1935 they began building cars. Frame and fortune came calling after WWII with a series of sexy sports cars and luxury saloons.

The Jaguar legend dates to 1922 when two motorcycle enthusiasts, Sir William Lyons and William Walmsley, founded the Swallow Sidecar Company. After WWII they began crafting a well-deserved reputation for creating dashing styling and high performance as a steady stream of sexy sports cars and purpose-built race cars rolled out of the British factory. In the early 1950s they added a series of elegant luxury saloons and the XJ joined this line in 1968.

The XK120 roadster had been shown at the 1948 London Motor Show as a concept showcasing the new XK engine. It was a sensation and went into production in 1949. It was named for its reported top speed of 120 miles per hour. The DOHC 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine with twin side-draft carburetors made 160 horsepower. It also had independent torsion bar front suspension, semi-elliptic rear leaf springs, and a telescopically adjustable steering column. More sport road models as well as purpose-built race cars followed that earned considerable success competing on twisty road racing circuits on both sides of the Atlantic.