2008-07-31 20:12:47 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 8/08
www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r

Auction description:
Sale 16250 - A Sale of Jaguar Motor Cars and Related Automobilia, 9 Aug 2008
XK60, Goodwood, Chichester, Sussex
Lot No: 223
The ex-Mike Salmon, D-Type engined
1953 Jaguar XK120 Roadster
Registration no. PCR 379
Chassis no. S661110
Engine no. EE1205-10

Estimate: £100,000 - 150,000

This XK120 Roadster was owned originally by racing driver Mike Salmon. A copy of the original logbook records the date of first registration as 1st September 1955, which is explained by the fact that Mike Salmon ran it on Channel Island licence plates from the time that he acquired the car at the end of 1953. It was actually his 21st Birthday present from his parents, which had been eight months before, so was rather late in arriving. Salmon was obviously a fairly well-off apprentice, and took delivery from the production line.
In a lengthy conversation with the current owner, Mike Salmon revealed that the XK120 was totally standard when he began racing it, initially mainly in hill climbs such as Boness and Rest-and-be-Thankful. An off-road excursion on one of these events meant that the XK needed a new door costing £38, which he considered quite a lot! Then, through his friendship with Frank ‘Lofty’ England, legendary race engineer and manager of Jaguar’s sports car team, he put the XK through a programme of development that included up-rated suspension; close-ratio gearbox (which came from the Service Department); aero screens; 2” carburettors; headlight air duct, etc. Salmon then raced the car at various UK circuits and was allowed to attend a Jaguar test-day at MIRA, where factory tester Norman Dewis lapped in the XK120 at just over 134mph. Mike Salmon continued to run the car while he was working at Rossleigh Motors in Edinburgh, and then, when he had done only 13,000 miles in total, sold it to purchase a Jaguar C-Type. The XK120 was sold to a man named Hilditch, who crashed it after a week, the car needing total repair as a result.
The car’s restoration in the late 1970s was carried out for the then owner, a Mr D Winstanley, this being a ‘body-off’ rebuild that included a new radiator, petrol tank and front wings; total re-trim and rewire, etc (bills on file). The engine, prepared separately and totally overhauled by a man named Brown, incorporates a 3.0-litre D-Type block (increased by him to 3.8 litres capacity); D-Type camshafts (part numbers C8512 and 8513); and 1⅞” inlet and 1⅝” exhaust valves. It has the correct inlet manifold, sand-cast DCO Webbers and exhaust manifold.
The vendor purchased the car in May 1980 from Vintage Autos Ltd and has retained numerous bills relating to the work that he has had done since then. At that time ‘PCR 379’ had covered fewer than 1,000 miles since the total overhaul, and there is confirming documentation on file. Almost all of the intervening MoT certificates are with the car, showing that the (post-restoration) mileage in 1981 was 900, going up to a little over 7,000 today – this lack of use being the principal motivation for sale. The total recorded mileage to date is 7,137 which, given the amount of time that the car has been in storage, could well be genuine. The vendor can confirm the mileage during his ownership, which is supported also by the aforementioned expired MoTs. In addition the car comes with a large quantity of bills, old-style logbook, MoT to July 2009, road fund licence to October 2008 and Swansea V5 registration document.
For the last 20 years the vendor has had the XK maintained by his own dedicated engineer, although little work has been needed (as reflected by the mileage). Following a garage fire that caused some paintwork damage, the car was re-sprayed circa 1990. Work undertaken within in the past ten years has included rebuilding the shock absorbers and fitting a new clutch and silencer, while more fundamental changes have included fitting a higher-ratio (3.07:1) rear axle and front disc brakes.
We are advised that, although in quite a high state of tune, the car always starts and, surprisingly, runs quite cool. As on D-Types there is no thermostat - all coolant circulates through the radiator - and a cut-down mechanical fan has been installed, supplementing the electric fan. As a practicality the radiator needs to be blanked off almost all of the time to prevent the motor running too cool, and the electric fan is hardly ever used. The car has no known faults, although it should be pointed out that it has Dykes piston rings, as found in most D-Types, so oil consumption is approximately 100 miles to a pint, which is actually a lot less than they were using at Le Mans in 1955!

2012-05-25 06:19:27 | James writes:

I am the current owner of this car and am trying to track down the original engine (a long shot I know!) - the number I am looking for is W9859-8S.
If anyone has this engine or information of its whereabouts I'd love to hear from them - email me at drjamesfraser@hotmail.com
Many thanks
James

2013-07-18 16:46:29 | James writes:

After some detective work and help from other parties I have now obtained the original engine! It is in pieces and needing a complete rebuild but after being removed in the 1970's it's great to reunite it with the car after 40 odd years. Will post some photos soon.

2014-02-10 10:40:32 | James writes:

Photos of original engine block and cylinder head now attached. Obviously they need restoration.

2017-10-13 16:27:12 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:
www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/jaguar/xk120/jaguar-xk120-m ...
J D Classics, Essex, United Kingdom

Sellers description:
This important XK120 competition roadster was originally owned and raced by the late Mike Salmon, one of the most prolific sports car drivers of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Constructed in 1953 this special equipment XK120 was one of only 27 cars finished in the rare colour scheme of Lavender Grey paint with Biscuit and Red interior and was purchased directly off the production line as a 21st birthday present for Michael ("Mike") Salmon. Mike's parents were Jersey-based and so the car was originally registered J14974 although this was subsequently changed to PCR379 in 1955 when Mike was working on the mainland as an apprentice with Jaguar. Having been fortunate enough to acquire one of the most desirable sports car of the time, Mike began his competition career with an appearance at an Edinburgh University Motor Club driving test meeting at Drem Airfield in February of 1954. It was not a particularly successful debut, with Mike slithering all over the snow-covered course, but it marked the start of a career that would last until 2008 and include no-less than 13 starts at Le Mans and numerous podium finishes at International level races. Interestingly another young driver was also making one of his first appearances that day, a certain Jim Clark. As 1954 progressed Mike started to realise his potential with competent ascents of Rest-and-be thankful and a class win at Bo'ness in June, a result he repeated in September. Having cut his teeth on hill climbs, in 1955 Mike moved on to circuit racing and he secured a highly creditable second place at Crimond in May, coming just behind Jock Lawrence in a C-Type. Unlike many drivers of his time, Mike was in the very fortunate position of working directly for Jaguar and so received support from the works including invaluable advice and access to spares and performance upgrades from the service department. It was at this time that Mike fitted a close ratio gearbox, larger carburettors, headlight air duct and metal tonneau, in addition to the aero screens and mirror cowl he had previously acquired. These upgrades, along with Mike's natural ability, clearly paid off with a number of successes against increasingly challenging opposition and by 1956 the car was very fast indeed, as evidenced by the 134 mph that Norman Dewis achieved in it at MIRA. Throughout 1956 Mike successfully raced PCR379 at the UK's top circuits including Goodwood, Aintree, Oulton Park, Mallory Park and Silverstone as well as continuing to run the car in the British Hill Climb Championship. By the end of the 1956 season, however, it was clear that Mike was destined for greater things and early in 1957 he purchased one of the ex-works C-Types, but only after his mother had secretly checked with Norman Dewis that he was capable of handling the XK120s more exotic cousin. Following Mike's sale, the next owner of PCR379 was a Mr George Hilditch, a businessman from Coventry who also hill climbed the car, at Mancetter, and used it for touring throughout the UK. Over the next twenty years or so the XK passed through a number of different hands before being acquired in the late 1970s by a solicitor who decided to fit an original experimental works engine (to D-Type specification). At this time the car was restored and finished in old English White with red interior and by now sported weber carburettors and stone guards to the headlights a la NUB120. It was in this condition that the car was acquired by JD Classics in 2014 and, although remaining generally solid, was starting to look tired and so underwent an extensive chassis off restoration with full JD race preparation. Remarkably just prior to its acquisition by JD Classics the original matching number engine block was located in the workshop where it had lain since the late 1970s. This original block was retrieved and has been reunited with the car.
With the restoration just completed, the car is now finished in the correct Lavender Grey paint and is ready to resume its competition career. As such it offers a very rare opportunity to acquire a historically important XK120 with links to a famous racing driver and which is eligible for all major historic events, including the Goodwood Revival and Mille Miglia. It comes accompanied by an extensive history file including many period photos and items of correspondence.
UNDER OFFER
Race History:
1954
February
Location: Drem Airfield, Edinburgh University Motor Club
Race: Driving Tests
Driver: M Salmon (Jim Clark in attendance)

26th June
Location: Bo'ness,
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 1st in class Car 47

11th September
Location: Bo'ness,
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 1st in class Car 50

Location: Rest-and-be-thankful
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon

1955
14th May
Track: Crimond
Race: Aberdeen DMC
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 2nd (behind Jock Lawrence)

June
Location: Brunton
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Car 66

July
Location: Firle
Race: British National Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon

1956
17th March
Track: Goodwood
Race: BARC Members Meeting
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 9th Car 53

9th June
Track: Oulton Park
Race: Autosport Trophy, round 2
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 4th

16th June
Track: Aintree
Race: Autosport Trophy, 100 mile race
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 3rd (behind John Dalton and Ken Rudd) Car 83

21st July
Track: Silverstone
Race: AMOC 6 Hour Relay Handicap, AMOC National Race
Driver: M Salmon
Car 4a, Car 147

25th August
Location: Shelsley Walsh
Race: MAC Hill Climb
Driver: M Salmon
Car 110

9th September
Location: Brighton
Race: Speed Trials
Driver: M Salmon

16th September
Track: Mallory Park
Race: Notts Sports Car Club
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 3rd Car 74

22nd September
Track: Oulton Park
Race: Autosport Trophy, 3 hr race
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 3rd Car 7

29th September
Track: Silverstone
Race: BRSCC
Driver: M Salmon
Result: 2nd (behind David Shale) Car 50

1957
Location: Mancetter Quarry
Race: Coventry and Warwickshire Motor Club Hill Climb
Driver: G Hilditch