2010-10-01 20:25:52 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction 9/10
www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r

Auction description:
Sale 18216 - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia, 17 Sep 2010
Goodwood Revival, Chichester, Sussex
Lot No: 337
Dexter Brown's Ghent Speed Trials record breaking
1952 Jaguar XK120 4.2-litre Special Roadster
Registration no. OKO 242
Chassis no. 660946

Sold for £74,100 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

Those who know the automotive art of painter Dexter Brown RI would not believe that he would ever settle for an ordinary car. His paintings exude the sheer excitement of motor sport, one can hear the screaming engines of his subjects as the rev counter soars towards the red line, smell the hot oil and sense the tension as great drivers scorch round Daytona, Monaco or wherever. Trained at Harrow College of Art, Dexter Brown exhibited at London's Thackeray Gallery, at the Monte Carlo Galleries and at the RBA and RI in London. It was in 1967 that he was elected RI at the young age of just twenty-five but that year was also significant as the year he acquired OKO 242.

£40 had changed hands and Dexter Brown owned a Jaguar XK120 that had sustained front end damage in a meeting with a lamp post. Eoin Young, writing of this car in Autosport magazine in February 1971, recounts how another XK120 with a rusty body yielded a replacement chassis and Brown built up an E-type 4.2 litre specification engine with gas-flowed head, bigger valves, racing crankshaft, high lift cams and a lightened flywheel, bringing the power up from 250bhp to 290bhp and the price for the race-tuned triple-carburettor engine to £300. Brown worked with Bentley Drivers Club member Harold Pounds to develop the car still further, fitting a close ratio gearbox with overdrive unit from an XK150 as well as 16inch wire wheels and disc brakes. The new car borrowed XK150 suspension. Weight was dramatically reduced by stripping the body to single skin and fitting a lightweight boot lid. Bucket seats replaced the original bench type seating. A detailed list of all Dexter Brown's modifications is on file. The blue livery with white racing decals harked back to the glorious days of David Murray's Ecurie Ecosse team of racing C-types.

Dexter Brown campaigned this car extensively in 1970 and 1971, participating at Bugatti Owner's Club Prescott Hill Climb, BARC Gurston Down Hill Climb, Shelsley Walsh and Brighton Speed Trials (recording a standing quarter mile there in a blistering 15.06 seconds). The greatest achievement during this period was however on 23rd May 1970 in Belgium at the Ghent Speed Trials where OKO ran the flying kilometre at a record speed of 153.5mph, achieving also FTD, and covered the standing kilometre in just 25.8seconds, again FTD. In June 1972 OKO was advertised in Motor Sport magazine by Dexter Brown for £1,500 proclaiming its status as Belgian National Record Holder for Sports Cars.

OKO later passed into the ownership of well known French collector Jacky Pichon, during whose long ownership extensive work and further development was carried out by Paul Grist at Traction Seabert & Co.Ltd. at Waltham Cross, England. This work resulted in a car more suitable for road use, nevertheless retaining its outstanding performance.

Repatriated to England in more recent years, and after about 15 years with little use, the Dexter Brown Jaguar has been carefully recommissioned. Work has included replacing the head gasket, fuel and water systems serviced, fuel tank cleaned and sealed, electrics tidied up and checked, exhaust parts replaced as necessary and new brake discs, callipers and pads fitted. The car has been cosmetically refreshed in all areas.

Surely one of the most charismatic 1950's Jaguars with a fascinating history, coming from previous distinguished ownership and with record breaking history, this car is now fabulously presented in metallic blue livery, dressed with racing decals, silver painted knock-on wire wheels, leather-strapped bonnet and the cockpit furnished with red leather upholstery. It is offered with a good file of historical records including copies of an old style log book going back to 1956, French Carte Grise, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate etc.etc., and comes with a Swansea registration document, current MOT and road fund licence. The vendor reports that this car is very quick, drives superbly and gives him the same pleasure and excitement that it gave Dexter Brown as a twenty eight year old at Ghent in 1970.

2011-05-10 06:37:37 | Peter Ingram writes:

See confusion with 660496

2012-07-12 10:07:46 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:
www.hiltonandmoss.com/cardesc/jaguar-xk-120-special-roadster-80

Sellers description:
Chassis number 660496 [typo should be 660946] is a most special, desirable and historically important XK120 having been previously owned and campaigned by the automotive artist Dexter Brown. Dexter acquired the car in 1967 at the young age of just twenty five years old and built the car into the Ecurie Ecosse Blue record breaking car that you see here. The car was fitted with an E Type 4.2 engine with gas flowed head, bigger valves, racing crankshaft, high lift cams and a gas flowed head taking the power up to a heady 290bhp. Dexter Brown campaigned the car extensively during this period including recording standing quarter mile time of just 15.06 seconds at the Brighton Speed Trials. However, the greatest achievement was at the Ghent Speed Trials in 1970 where the car ran the flying kilometre at a record speed of 153.5mph and also achieving ftd at the same event. This is an exceptionally quick XK120 that delivers the same pleasure and excitement today as it did in period.

2013-01-04 11:32:14 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 1/13
www.coys.co.uk/auction.php

Auction description:
Lot 330 - 1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster - Ex Dexter Brown
Estimate: £75,000 - £85,000
Registration Number: OKO 242
Chassis Number: 660946

Dexter Brown has a lifetime of racing this XK and knows how to get the best from a car. It was purchased by him in 1967 at the young age of just twenty five years old and built the car into the "Ecurie Ecosse" Blue record breaking car that you see here. The car was fitted with an E-Type 4.2 engine with gas flowed head, bigger valves, racing crankshaft, high lift cams and a gas flowed head taking the power up to a heady 290bhp.
Dexter Brown campaigned the car extensively, including recording standing quarter mile time of just 15.06 seconds at the Brighton Speed Trials. However, the greatest achievement was at the Ghent Speed Trials in 1970 where the car ran the flying kilometre at a record speed of 153.5mph and also achieved fastest time of the day at the same event.

Other notable achievements included a 64 second time at Prescott Hill Climb (long course), 42.3 seconds at Shelsley Walsh, 46.5 seconds at Gurston Down Hillclimb, a 15.06 seconds Brighton Speed Trials and a further result at Gurston Down Hillclimb with a 44.39 (fastest XK on the day).

This is an exceptionally quick XK120 that delivers the same pleasure and excitement today as it did in period. The car is supplied with a Heritage Trust Certificate, buff log book and a history file including magazine features, rebuild history and race results. The Jaguar comes with a V5 document and an MoT certificate valid until July 2013.

Beautifully finished in Ecosse blue with red leather upholstery, this historic car represents a magnificent opportunity to acquire an XK120 with a rare and significant history.

2013-04-06 09:55:05 | pauls writes:

Not sold.