2007-05-19 20:15:36 | John Elmgreen writes:

Car now in South Africa, Email me if you have any further information! Restoration completed early 2007.

2008-01-18 07:25:36 | Lofty writes:

What an incredible motor car.

2018-08-01 19:36:37 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 8/1/18
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XK120-Drophead-Coupe-DHC-1953-Right-Hand-Drive/2023776 ...
Classified Ad price: £110,000, seller cotswoldclassiccarrestorations, car now said to be in Cirencester, United Kingdom.

Sellers description:
1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe
British Racing Green with Suede Green Trim

Cotswold Classic Car Restorations are proud to have been instructed to act as sales agents on behalf of the owner of this stunning example of British motoring history.

This vehicle will come with a full service by CCCR and has been through our works shops and been given a clean bill of health showing in fabulous condition.

The DVLA have confirmed that at the end of March 2018 there were 24 licensed Jaguar XK's DHC built between 1953 - 1954 and 5 with a SORN in known existence.

The XK's compromised, uncluttered and utterly desirable lines, makes it one of the finest classic cars on the road to-day. Credited with a top speed of 120 mph this example was the 13th right hand drive drop head coupé manufactured at Browns Lane out of a total production of 294.

First owned by Lt. Col S E Sanders of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the car last graced the English byways in 1969 (some 40 years ago) when it was purchased by a Norfolk farmer for restoration. It changed hands again to a British Airways pilot in 1984 and was untouched when bought by Chris Jacques, a Sussex collector, in 1999. As a "barn find", the rusting bits arrived in Cape Town, South Africa in January 2004 and were delivered to Jaguar Classic Restorations in Ottery with all original matching numbers.

This model was the first to be fitted with the famous XK 6-cyclinder engine which endured for 40 years before being replaced in 1988. Producing 180bhp at 5300 rpm the XK120dhc weighs 3080lbs and races to 60mph in 10.9secs. The power is transmitted through the renowned 4-speed Moss gearbox with its period feel and characteristic whine in first gear, which has no synchromesh and second requires a double declutch!

The body of this car was the subject of a 9 month re-fabrication, most capably executed by Fine-Blast of Philippi, whilst the chassis, mechanicals and final restorative assembly were undertaken by the team at JCR under the fastidious, perfectionist eyes of Nick Joubert.

Connolly Leather in suede green was imported from the UK Hide Company and fine quality, dark green, mohair hood material, lined in wool arrived from Suffolk & Turley UK, the interior specialists: both compliment the British Racing Green paintwork.

The chassis and mechanicals are all "nut & bolt" restored, original components and the only departure from the factory specifications is the electric cooling fan for African conditions.

The restoration was completed in August 2008 and more recently detailed and re-commissioned by SG Classic Cars in Killarney Gardens, Cape Town during which new Vredestein classic tyres were fitted. This beautiful classic Jaguar has covered a just over 1000 "shake-down" miles.

Body Style: Drop head coupe right hand drive
Chassis number: 667030
Engine number: W9826-8
Body number: P2099
Gearbox number: JL 18885
Original Dealer: Henleys Limited, London
Colour: British Racing Green with Suede Green Trim

2021-08-24 14:19:07 | pauls writes:

Car to return to auction 9/21

www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-69---1953-jaguar-xk120-drophead-coupe/&so=0&st=jaguar&sto=0&au=501&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd ...

1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe

Matching numbers, home market example

Lot 69 (Imperial War Museum Duxford, Wed, 8th Sep 2021)

Estimate £75,000 - £90,000

Registration No: NYF 410

Chassis No: 667030

MOT: Exempt

1 of just 295 right-hand drive examples made

Supplied new via Henlys Ltd of London to Lt. Col. S.E. Sanders of Gainsborough

Treated to a body off, chassis up restoration by Jaguar Classic Restorations of Cape Town from 2004-2008 (just 1,200 miles ago). Matching chassis, engine, and body numbers plus original registration number

The thirtieth of just 295 right-hand drive Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupes made, chassis 667030 was completed on 29th September 1953 and supplied new the following month by Henlys Ltd of London to Lt Col S.E. Sanders of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Road registered as ‘NYF 410’, the two-seater was reputedly taken off the road in the late 1960s. Belonging to a Norfolk farmer by 1980, he got as far as refurbishing the chassis before a divorce saw the still immobile Jaguar sold to Paul Watkins of Milton Keynes in 1984. A commercial airline pilot, Mr. Watkins disassembled the Drophead Coupe but did little else to it. Acquired by renowned marque enthusiast Chris Jacques during 1999, chassis 6670303 joined a stable which included one of the famous XK120 Lightweight competition cars but again aside from a steering box rejuvenation little was done to it.

Progress finally came when the two-seater was sold via Retro Classics Ltd of London to the chairman of the Cape Jaguar Club in South Africa, Jonathan Mayne in October 2003. Mr Mayne entrusted the Drophead Coupe to Jaguar Classic Restorations (Cape) where it was treated to an exhaustive, near ‘nut and bolt’ rejuvenation which took over four years to complete. The original engine was overhauled as were the gearbox, brakes and suspension. The chassis and body were refurbished by Fine Blast of Philippi and the cockpit re-trimmed by FS Interiors using Suede Green Connolly leather sourced from the UK Hide Company plus a Suffolk & Turley supplied mohair hood. The interior woodwork was renewed and British Racing Green paint was chosen to adorn the exterior. Aside from the addition of an electric cooling fan, the car was returned to factory specification almost throughout.

Further improved by SG Classic Cars of Chempet in 2013 including the fitment of Vredstein radial tyres all round and sundry detailing, the XK120 was repatriated to the UK five years later. Joining the vendor’s private collection in April 2019, that same month saw ‘NYF 410’ uprated with a wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel and seatbelts by Cotswold Classic Car Restorations at a cost of £2,149.20. Further benefiting from a minor brake overhaul at the hands of Miles Classic Ltd during June 2019, the Drophead Coupe has only covered some 1,200 post-refurbishment miles. Considered by the seller to be in ‘very good’ (paintwork, electrical equipment, interior trim) or ‘excellent’ (engine, gearbox, bodywork) condition, this decidedly handsome XK120 is offered for sale Jaguar Heritage Certificate, V5C Registration Document and detailed restoration/parts invoices.

2022-11-28 09:28:34 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 11/22

themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/jaguar/xk120-dhc/f91673b6-37f1-4854-b07e-33464 ...&slide=149

Auction description:

SellerNProctor

Location: Cleckheaton, United Kingdom

Seller Type: Private

Odometer Reading: 1500

Chassis Number: 667030

Engine: 3442

Gearbox: Manual

Steering position: Right-hand drive

Colour: British Racing Green

Interior: Green & Wood Veneer

Estimated Price: £70,000 - £85,000

It's had something of a fascinating life. First supplied to a customer in the Fens, the XK120 ran for around 15 years before being taken off the road for unknown reasons. However it then passed into the hands of an owner and collector in Norfolk who intended to restore the car – one of three he owned – before marital strife intervened.

The XK120 then passed to another owner with similar intent, but again the little Jaguar went unrestored before ending up in the collection of another serial XK owner who wasn't able to give it the time and attention it needed.

Eventually though, in 2003, it found an owner who could do it justice, and – as part of a collection of seven cars, including five XKs – was exported to South Africa.

Its new owner overhauled just about every component of the car, including the chassis, body, engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension, roof, and interior trim over the course of around four years. Although all the receipts are in local currency, it converts to roughly £25,000 of work to bring the XK back up to almost showroom health.

After spending a few more years on the roads of South Africa, the XK120 came back to the UK in 2019 and into the hands of its current owner who has used it sparingly since; there's 1,200 miles on the clocks since its restoration in South Africa.

On the Outside

As you might expect from a car that's been so recently restored and spent most of the intervening time away from British roads and traffic, the XK120 is in a generally excellent condition externally.

Finished in classic British Racing Green – what else? – there's no obvious marking anywhere on the outside of the XK, and the paintwork is still tremendously rich despite its time in the South African sunshine.

All the large panels and body pieces are free from damage, chips, or swirls, even on the leading edges. In fact the only blemishes we can see are a small patch of bubbles at the leading edge of the boot lid on the nearside, and a slight, linear scuff just ahead of the fuel filler flap.

A notable item is the removable spats, covering the rear wheels and helping the XK120 to the 120mph top speed for which it's named. These also look in excellent condition, with a little ageing on the chrome covers for the locks that secure them.

All four wheels are painted in the same green, with chrome covers, and again all are in great condition with no markings or oxidation. The black colouring around the Jaguar wordmark is a little worn but not damaged. There's like-new Vredestein Sprint Classic radial tyres on all four corners.

The soft top hood, supplied by a UK manufacturer to the South African restorer, is also in excellent condition. It's a green, mohair item which should last for years to come; we were only able to find a minor scuff on the nearside, just behind and above the door glass. The plastic rear window is clear and neither scratched, cracked, nor clouding or yellowing.

The glass in the doors, including the quarter-lights, and that split windscreen is all in perfect condition, free from chips or scratches of any kind. That also goes for the lighting, with headlights, tail lights, and indicators all unmarked and in full working order.

There's plenty of chrome brightwork with an XK120, and this too is in excellent condition. Only the offside mirror could do with a little polish to bring it back up to match the rest of the car, and the front radiator grille has some slightly misaligned spars

On the Inside

It's, quite literally, classic Jaguar in the cabin, with a high quality mixture of green leather and walnut burr, complemented by green carpeting throughout.

Just about everything you see in the compact interior was replaced during the 2003+ restoration, so it should be little surprise that it's in excellent and barely used condition throughout.

That starts with the Connolly leather seats. With the exception of a scuff on the outside bolster of the driver's seat – the highest traffic area of the interior of all – it's in great condition. There's some mild creasing on the seat-backs of both, but otherwise there's little sign of age. Both seatbelts are brand new, with even the protective film remaining on the passenger side item.

The leather extends onto the rear panel, door cards, and upper dashboard, and it's again in an almost-new state. There's also leather gaiters for the gear lever and handbrake, a new, four-spoke Moto Lita steering wheel, fitted in 2019.

That rich walnut burr panelling covers the dashboard, door panel uppers, and areas of the roof. On the roof trim pieces there is some delamination – alongside what appears to be a couple of areas of paint touch-up on the body colour metal parts – but otherwise there's nothing to suggest this hasn't just come out of the factory.

All of the gauges are clear and bright, and operate as they ought to, and all the switches remain clearly labelled and operational. We didn't get a chance to test out the AM/FM radio – which looks to be a later item than the original but in-keeping with the car.

The green carpeting covers everything from the waist down, including the transmission tunnel, and is also in excellent condition. However there is a scuff to the passenger side sill, suggesting that the door on that side is rubbing slightly.

Underneath

The XK is a car named in part for its engine and in part for its performance. It sports the twin-carb, 3.4-litre “XK” straight six engine, producing 160hp. It's paired to a four-speed manual Moss gearbox, here with no overdrive.

That's enough to propel the 1.4-tonne XK120 to 60mph in just under ten seconds and on to a top speed of 120mph. Remarkable in its day, that's still enough to keep up with the bulk of modern road cars.

It is something of a challenge to drive compared to modern cars though, with no synchromesh on the gearbox, no power steering, and drum brakes all round. That is, in fact, part of the reason why the seller is opting to part with the car; the experience box has been ticked, but car and driver aren't compatible.

However it all drives exactly as it should, with no modification to the mechanicals aside from an electric fan. It's common to find gearbox and brake conversions, but this XK120 is all original.

Underneath it's close to a new car. The chassis restoration is obvious, with an almost completely unmarked underside including pristine chassis rails. Aside from a little weathering on some of the suspension components, there's barely any sign of age at all.

There's also new exhaust sections, which appear to be stainless steel, and the new brake hard lines and braided hoses just about jump out at you. Nothing leaks, squeaks, or rattles, and the engine fires up and revs without a fuss.

History Highlights

The most remarkable part of the car's history is, without a doubt, the box file full of invoices from its time in South Africa. In fact prior to its spell overseas there's actually not that much information, aside from a certificate and statement from Retro Classics detailing its build date and previous owners.

That file contains receipts for what we'd estimate to be around £25,000 of restoration work, converted from South African Rand to Sterling at 2006 exchange rates, including the leather interior and mohair roof from UK suppliers. There's also the South African equivalent of the UK “road tax” (VED) documents, and import and registration documents.

2023-07-06 07:39:21 | pauls writes:

Car to return to auction 7/23

carsonline.bonhams.com/en/listings/jaguar/xk120-dhc/f91673b6-37f1-4854-b07e-3346 ...

Auction description:

VIN 667030

Mileage 1500

Displacement 3442

manual

British Racing Green

Green & Wood Veneer

Right-hand drive

Vehicle location Cleckheaton, United Kingdom

This particular example is one of the rarest out there, with fewer than 300 examples of the drop head coupe made in right-hand drive. It's also been through an almost nut-and-bolt restoration, with matching number chassis, engine, and body, and is in full working order ready for next year's classic car events.

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £60,000 - £75,000 in auction.