2008-11-08 15:38:57 | pauls writes:

Car seen at:
www.britishcarsofamerica.com/public/british-cars-of-america-vehicle-detail.aspx

Description:
Vin: Chassis #671298
Rest. Type: Newer
Restoration: Frame-on
Engine: Dual Overhead Cam Inline 6 Engine #W3233-8
Transmission: Manual 4-speed
Rear End: 3.64:1 ENV type 4
Interior: Split Bench w/Floor Shift
Interior Color: Light Tan
Interior Material: Leather
Interior Restoration: Correct Style
Wheels/Tires: Dayton 60 spoke wires

Options:
* Performance Brakes
* Wire Wheels
* #'s Matching

You are looking a restoration at work on a 1951 Jag XK120 OTS. The car came to us looking in fine shape but having done many restorations on many different Jags we know that may not always be true. This car is one of 105 built in the month of May 1951, and 700 LHD OTS’s for the year. The car came to us dressed in a dull shade of green, some pitted chrome could be found on almost every piece of bright work. The top had holes for mice and very yellow back window. Its engine was in tacked and running (after a little time cleaning and adjusting the points) but it did not have the power it should of. The gearbox seemed to shift well and the clutch felt heavy and slow. The brakes would give up on a hard stop and just let you keep going or lock up and let you slide. The seats felt good, well worn with no rips and very soft. The door panels were a poorly made replacement and had hid the door pulls out of sight. The floor boards were in very good condition and still had overspray on them from the factory. The body looked very good, the front had some minor damage from hitting something and the bumpers were a little out of place. The owner wanted the car to original condition and for it to be mechanically safe and sound. So the tare down started with drive train. Pulling the engine and gearbox and all the engine bay items that needed a good cleaning, inspecting and testing. The interior was next making sure to take pictures along the way. Everything was bag and marked or boxed and marked for ease of putting it all back together. We left the suspension on the car to make it easier to move and decided to do a rebuild after the car came back from paint. The paint and body work was the easiest I’ve ever had to do for a Jag. It started by striping the alloy panels (doors, trunk lid and hood) of paint. We did this with aircraft grade paint striper and a plastic scraper. The reason for this was that the steel part of the body was going to be sent to the sandblaster and we did not wish to damage the alloy panels with such a harsh media. After the car came back for blasting we feared for the worst (as is the case with most Jags after blasting) but to our surprise the car was in just a good condition now as it was before. Not even the battery boxes were bad! The car then received a good blow dry and vacuum to remove any sand, and then an anti-rust agent was sprayed on the car. The car then received my touch with a hammer and dolly, removing all the dents I could and bring the car closer to perfection. Now it was time for paint, the car got a coat of self-etching primer/primer-sealer. Then the block work started, sanding and sanding for hours and days on end getting the body as smooth and as strait as possible. The car was then sent to our painter, a gentleman who doesn’t stand for anything less then perfect. The color wanted by the customer would make Sir William Lyons roll over in his grave, Ferrari Red. But you will have to agree that the car does look great in that color, just think of it as a wealthy English gentleman in a fine fitted Italian three button suit. While the paint was being applied the bright work was either rebuffed to flawless shine or sent out to be re-chromed. Anything that you can’t buy new or that are of poor quality new was sent out (so just about everything) After the car came back from paint the rebuilding of the suspension started. It began with the rear end, removing the brakes, hubs, axles, springs, shocks, differential, and diff housing. Then cleaning them of all grease, old paint, dirt and repainting them to semi-gloss black that the factory painted them when new. Then the front came apart, and all parts were cleaned and painted. New poly bushing all around, new front shocks, new steering bushings, new anti-roll bar bushings, new rear springs, new bearings, new seals, and new wire wheel hubs (the car was a disc wheel car). The conversion to wire wheels aloud us to fit our disc brake conversion for 120s and 140s. The XK 120 is coming along very well and we hope to have it finished in the fall if not sooner.

2008-11-08 20:14:02 | Peter Ingram writes:

Not May Built 1951 JUne

2010-10-26 11:51:41 | Adam writes:

1951 OTS LHD May production starts at car number 671205 and ends with 671361 so the car was built in May unless the factory had the car out of line with the rest of production.

2012-01-04 15:45:26 | Adrianne Key writes:

Recently restored by British Cars Restorations & Services, LLC. More information and photo can be found at: www.britishcarsofamerica.com.