1949 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

The first Jaguar XK120 built for the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show in London, was built in six weeks. The early cars were built with aluminum panels over a wood frame since aluminum was light and easy to work. Originally, William Lyons planned on selling just 200 examples of the XK 120 but demand quickly changed those estimates. The orders poured in so fast that he switched from aluminum to steel bodies, which could be built much faster, and in greater numbers.

Production of the XK 120 lasted from 1949 through 1954 with 7,631 examples built. Of those, 242 examples were clothed in aluminum.

This particular example was manufactured on January 1950 and shipped on February 10th to CAMAV, the Jaguar distributor in Caracas, Venezuela. It left the factory finished in Red over Biscuit and Red upholstery, with a fawn soft top. The second owner was James Caraher of Tacoma, Washington, in 1979. While in Caraher's care, it was treated to a restoration and later sold to Robert Ames of Seattle in the late 1980s. Ames proceeded to refine the restoration.

Shortly after the work was completed, it was entered in the fourth Biennial JCNA Concours at Bend, Oregon, in August 1989, winning its class with 99.36 points as well as being awarded Best of Show.

In the early 2000s, the car was acquired by its current owner.

The car has its correct tool kit, air pump, jack, rare aluminum-hub brake drums, and original engine block. The cylinder head is an unstamped replacement unit.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2017