2009-08-07 12:32:54 | Lofty writes:

From Aug-2009,
Ref. www.canepa.com/inventory/racecar_1/XK120/index.html

1950 Jaguar XK120

Chassis No.: 660118
Engine No.: W2293-8
Transmission No.: JH4821

REQUEST A printable PDF document with Photos

This particular car is the third car built for the 1950 model year. It is a right hand drive steel body car with aluminum hood, trunk and doors and was ordered for competition use. It was owned by famous west coast sports car enthusiast John Edgar and was raced in 1952 by Jack McAfee.
McAfee had previous XK120 experience driving Tony Parravano’s car to third overall at the Santa Ana road races in 1950. McAfee moved over to Edgar’s team in 1951 driving the MG special and this Jaguar XK120.

At the 1952 Palm Springs Road Races McAfee had a remarkable race in this XK120. He spun out while leading and had to let the entire field pass before rejoining the race. He then drove back through the field to take the win! He also competed with the car at Torrey Pines and other west cost events. By 1953 McAfee had moved into Edgar’s Ferrari 4.1 and the Jaguar was eventually sold.

After its competition carrier was over the car was used very little and eventually put into storage in the mid 1960’s. The car has lived its entire life in California and is in great condition. The aluminum panels are in excellent condition and show no signs of any damage. This would make the perfect Jaguar vintage racer with its period racing history.

2012-08-15 10:17:38 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 8/12
www.goodingco.com/car/1950-jaguar-xk120

Auction description;
Lot 058
The John Edgar and Jack McAfee
1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster
CHASSIS NO. 660118
ENGINE NO. W2293-8
$250,000 - $350,000
This beautifully restored XK120 offers extremely desirable racing provenance, having been campaigned by one of the greatest of California's legendary teams of the 1950s. Believed to be just the third steel-bodied XK120 ever built, this car was originally sold through International Motors in Hollywood, California, to the renowned John Edgar, the colorful team owner who fielded some of the era's greatest cars and most successful drivers.

As this car was ordered with unusual components such as a racing bellypan, it would seem that Edgar took full advantage of International Motors' knowledgeable staff, who were well versed in the art of tailoring road-car orders to suit racing applications. Curiously ordered in right-hand-drive, which some historians believe was a measure to better judge the apexes of the circuit's clockwise courses. This XK120 was dubbed "the liquor car" by Edgar's son Will, an automotive journalist who remembers how his father stored bottles of Johnnie Walker in the door pouches.

On March 23, 1952, Team Edgar entered this sensational Jaguar in the Fourth Annual Palm Springs Road Races, wearing no. 98. Facing a field of several other XK120 roadsters in the Over 1.5 Liter Production Class, no. 98 got off to a fast start piloted by famed driver Jack McAfee, who had gained experience in an XK while driving Scuderia Parravano's example to a 3rd overall finish at the 1950 Santa Ana Road Race.

McAfee reportedly spun out early in the race and was forced to allow the remaining field of cars to pass him before re-entering the course. Despite the setback, the gifted driver managed to weave his way back through the other cars, eventually retaking the lead for a spectacular victory. A photograph of the race depicting his lead over the eventual 2nd-place finisher Skip Swartley is featured in American Sports Car Racing in the 1950s, a book about the era's great California-based racing teams written by Michael T. Lynch, William Edgar and Ron Parravano - the latter two being the respective sons of John Edgar and fellow team owner Tony Parravano.

Within a year of the Palm Springs win, McAfee switched to a 4.1-liter Ferrari, and the XK120 was retired from competition. Soon after, Edgar sold the Jaguar to Lou Brero, another racer in California. The car was put into dry storage in the 1960s, until acquired by Bruce Canepa in 2007. Mr. Canepa conducted research into the Roadster's provenance before selling it in 2009 to its current owner, a North Carolina-based collector of Jaguars who had met McAfee and was told of the power that this car offered.

Leaving California for the first time in 59 years, this Jaguar was soon treated to a full cosmetic and chassis restoration by Performance Auto Restoration of Columbus, Ohio. The original engine was tested and determined to develop good compression, so a thorough cleaning and tuning was deemed preferable to a rebuild. Bassett Jaguar Interiors, Inc. installed a beautiful new proper leather interior with sport seats in a lovely two-tone scheme of red and beige, while Aubrey Finburgh, a former employee of the Jaguar factory, expertly handcrafted the cowl to mount the racing windscreen and center rearview mirror. Performance Auto finished the body with a full repaint in beige, with "98" and commemorative "Palm Springs 1952" checkered flag decals to complete the period appearance.

In this wonderfully restored condition, the car participated in the pace lap at the 60th Anniversary of Sebring in March 2012. Beautifully prepared for either museum-level display or vintage racing, this XK120 offers unmatched provenance for enthusiasts of 1950s SCCA history and the influential California racing teams. It is a rare documented example of an early McAfee-driven race winner that could compete on the show field as easily as it could contend in the numerous vintage events for which it is eligible.

2014-08-02 10:28:14 | pauls writes:

Lot 058 did not sell.

2022-10-01 12:06:52 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

woodham-mortimer.com/Cars/For-Sale/1950-Jaguar-XK120-Competition-Roadster/64f23a ...

Seller's description:

This very special ‘1950 Jaguar XK120 Competition Roadster’ is the third car built for the 1950 model year. It is a specially ordered RHD Steel body car with Aluminium hood, trunk and doors and was ordered for Competition use.

It was owned by John Edgar and was raced in 1952 by Jack McAfee. Mr. Edgar was a multimillionaire heir to the Hobart restaurant equipment fortune, and moved to LA in the late 40's from Chicago to be involved in Southern California Sports Car racing. During the 1950s, along with the teams of Kimberly, Cunningham, Parravano and von Neumann, the name Edgar became well-known at sports car racing events all over the United States.

John Edgar’s cars, transport equipment, and winning drivers became legendary, while fielding marques that included MG, Siata, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati, piloted by first-rate racing talent such as Bill Pollack, Jack McAfee, Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill, Pete Lovely, Masten Gregory, and Lance Reventlow.

He specially ordered this RHD Jaguar for competition from International Motors, the factory authorized Jaguar dealership on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA. The owner Roger Barlow was great friends with Sir William Lyons, which probably explains how, uniquely this Car was actually delivered to International Motors still in ’primer’ – this is confirmed on the Jaguar Heritage Certificate.

John Edgar felt it was an advantage for the drivers to be on the right as both the B competition cars as well as the factory competition Ferraris from Italy were RHD. This very Jaguar chassis 660118 won the 1952 Palm Springs Road Race sanctioned by the California Sports Car Club. At that race McAfee performed an amazing feat in this XK120; he spun out while leading and had to let the entire field pass before re-joining the race. He then drove back through the whole field to take the win!

He also competed with the car at Torrey Pines and other West Coast events. By 1953 McAfee had moved into Edgar’s Ferrari 4.1 and the Jaguar was eventually sold to Lou Brero who was a very successful racer of the 1950s. His son Lou Brero Jr. sold 660118 to Bruce Canepa and the current owner purchased the Car from Canepa Design.

After its competition career was over the Car was used sparingly and eventually put into storage in the mid 1960’s. The Car has lived its entire life in California and is in great condition. The aluminium panels are in excellent condition and showed no signs of any damage. This is the perfect Jaguar vintage racer with its period racing history and has to be one of the most important XK120C’s in the world.

This Jaguar just completed restoration with livery as raced at Palm Springs 1952 and is finished back to the original creme exterior with a beautiful two tone red/beige leather interior upholstered by Bassett Jaguar Interiors (the best in the USA). Aubrey Finburgh in England who originally worked for the Jaguar factory handmade the cowling for the racing aero screen as well as the mirror cowling. The engine was originally modified by Jack McAfee/Phil Hill and is an incredibly super strong running example with the tricks and upgrades learned directly from feedback for the Jaguar Factory Team.

With the early 1950's California Racing history and the John Edgar and Jack McAfee racing name attached to chassis 660118, this really is a special car, one of the most valuable XK120's in the world! The Car comes with an incredible History file of letters, receipt and photos.

Due to its period racing history the Car is eligible to compete in Classic Car Racing events such as the Mille Miglia, Goodwood and Le Mans Classic.