2013-01-10 13:17:57 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 2/13
www.bonhams.com/auctions/20924/lot/530/

Auction description:
7 Feb 2013 16:30 CET Paris, The Grand Palais
Cars
Lot 530
Single Brown family ownership since 1954
1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe
Chassis No. S677020
Engine No. W7566-8S

As designated by its chassis number, S677020 is a Special Equipment model, and would have been only the 20th drophead to have been built, the sequence for these starting at 677001. Almost certainly delivered to the U.S. as new, it was acquired by Charles H. Brown's mother in Lake Forest, Illinois on 28th August 1954 and has remained within their family ever since. A file of documentation with the car charts early U.S. road registrations and receipts for maintenance going back to the 1950s, and alluding to the family interest in motoring, the car still wears as Sports Car Club of America sticker in its windscreen which must date from the '50s or '60s.

Close inspection of the car today, both in terms of paint and its interior seems to suggest that the car was never restored, its leather while clearly old, shows only limited wear and the headlining for the convertible roof is in remarkably good order. Although not proven, it seems possible that the mileage which reads in the low teens, could be from new.

With its single ownership virtually from new and seemingly remarkably original and unspoilt order, this XK can almost certainly be considered as a potential preservation class candidate, making it all the more desirable.

Footnote: Although Mr. Brown had shipped the car to the U.K. in 1990 as a personal import, there is no evidence that it was ever re-registered for the British or European roads, which will need to be accomplished by the buyer, Bonhams can assist with this aspect if necessary.
Estimate:
€60,000 - 80,000
£49,000 - 65,000
US$ 79,000 - 100,000
1953 Jaguar XK120 cabriolet
Chassis no. S677020
Engine no. W7566-8S

2013-01-11 06:21:49 | John Elmgreen writes:

Note that the engine number is W7565-8S as stated in the box above - from the JHT certificate - and not W7566-8S as Bonhams stated.

2013-02-16 11:37:03 | Anonymous writes:

Sold for EUR 93,150 inc. premium

2014-12-05 19:21:29 | Anonymous writes:

Plus Tax plus Tax France Handling Bonhams plus Tax USA to Germany and Transport
and Mst Tax Germany 118,500,00 €

2019-09-21 12:14:03 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auctoin 10/19

rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf19/london/lots/r0071-1953-jaguar-xk-120-drophead-co ...%C3%A9/819747

Auction: Oct 24, 2019

Lot Number 126

Location: London, United Kingdom

£90,000 - £130,000

Chassis No. S 677020

Engine No. W 7565-8S

Gearbox No. JL 15434

Exterior: Birch grey

Just two owners from new; nearly sixty years of prior single ownership

Highly original, including original paintwork and interior

An ideal candidate for the preservation class at shows and concours

Registration and maintenance records dating to the 1950s

This left-hand-drive Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé, finished in Birch Grey over red leather, was built 12 March 1953 and dispatched to Los Angeles, California, on 26 March 1953 through the West Coast distributor, Charles Hornburg.

As designated by its chassis number, S 677020, this is a Special Equipment model, making it the 20th drophead coupé built, the sequence for these starting at 677001. It was ordered by Bertha A. Brown in Lake Forest, Illinois, on 28 August 1954 and remained with her family, passing to her son Charles, until 2013, when it was purchased by the consignor, a very well-respected collector of British sports cars.

A file of documentation with the car retains early U.S. road registrations and receipts for maintenance going back to the 1950s, and, alluding to the family interest in motoring, the car still wears a Sports Car Club of America sticker in its windscreen. Close inspection of the car today, both in terms of paint and its interior, seems to suggest that the car was never restored, although the wheels have been painted. The leather, while clearly old, shows only limited wear and boasts incredible patina, and the headlining for the convertible roof is in remarkably outstanding order.

A document file includes the handwritten order form, the car invoice from 28 August 1954, and early registrations as well as maintenance receipts dating to the 1950s.The wooden panels of the dashboard have been replaced, but the original panels come with the car. This Jaguar should prove an ideal candidate for a preservation class, adding to its desirability.

After almost 60 years in the ownership of the Brown family, it is believed by Jaguar specialists that there are less than a handful of such cars on the planet in original condition like S 677020.