VIN: Clark Gable's Jaguar XK120 chassis 670003
Jaguar - Jaguar XK120 - Jaguar VINs - XK120 VINs - Clark Gable - Actors
History of chassis 670003
Chassis 670003 was the third left-hand drive XK120 built.
Painted Suede Green with a two-tone Biscuit and Red interior, it was completed during June 1949 and dispatched to the USA on September 5th. Its destination was Jaguar’s West Coast distributor, Charles H. Hornburg Jnr. Motor Cars in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
From here, 670003 was sent to International Motors on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. International Motors was a Jaguar, MG and Mercedes-Benz dealership run by Roger Barlow.
Barlow and Hornburg were both friends with the actor, Clark Gable. Gable already owned a Jaguar MkIV DHC and, when he saw photographs of an XK120 on display at the 1948 London Motor Show, became desperate to own one at the earliest opportunity.
Since taking his first lead role for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1931, Gable had established himself as arguably the biggest star in Hollywood.
Less than a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, Gable’s third wife, Carole Lombard, and the best man at his wedding, Otto Winkler, died when the Douglas DC-3 they were travelling aboard after a war bond selling tour crashed near Las Vegas.
Following the completion of the film Somewhere I’ll Find You, Gable joined the US Army Air Forces. After training in Texas and Colorado, he was stationed at RAF Polebrook in Northamptonshire, England.
Gable flew five combat missions between May and September of 1943 and was awarded both the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.
After his discharge from service, Gable returned to his ranch in Encino, California, and resumed his acting career.
Prior to the war, Gable had owned various high end motor cars to include a 1932 Packard Twin Six 905 Coupe Roadster, a customised 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe and a 1938 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria.
For six months between 1935 and 1936, he had also been loaned one of the two short wheelbase Duesenberg SSJs. The other was sold to his friend and fellow actor, Gary Cooper.
Soon after taking delivery of the XK120, Gable decided to have the car repainted a custom shade of grey. He and Roger Barlow mixed the colour themselves and it subsequently became known as Gable Grey.
In an article titled My Favourite Sports Car published in the March 1950 edition of Road & Track magazine, Gable recounted a tale of how he had taken 670003 out to one of California’s dry lakes and hit 124mph:
“To call the XK “My Favourite Sports Car” is putting it mildly.
When the 120 was first announced I was driving a MkIV Jaguar so I already knew what the name implied. The general appearance and specifications of the car were enough to make me want it like a child wants candy. I wasn’t alone in wanting an XK120 but I was fortunate to be among the early birds in becoming an owner.
As this was shortly after the car had set a world record of over 132 miles per hour for stock production cars, I lost no time in seeing just what mine, which I KNEW was strictly stock, would do. So I decided to try a clocked run at one of the dry lakes here in Southern California. To make a long story short, we went through the measured mile course at 124mph. Though the run was timed only by stop watch, it satisfied me.
I can say, without reservation, that the car is the easiest handling vehicle I have maneuvered at any speed or condition. There isn’t the slightest feeling of exceptionally high speed one generally has in smaller automobiles – in fact, for a sense of security at high speed I prefer the Jag regardless of size. As for maneuverability, I’ll stack the cornering abilities of the XK against anything I’ve ever driven. I have put her into as many types and kinds of slides as I know without once having the fear or uneasiness I generally have about whether I’m going to come out in one piece or not. Such characteristics can only mean to me that the car is superbly designed as to steering geometry, weight distribution, braking power, suspension and chassis rigidity.”
Gable subsequently went on to own two more Jaguar XK120s, but how long he retained 670003 for is unclear.
The car was later discovered and subsequently restored to its original configuration.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
