VIN: the Clemente Biondetti Jaguar XK120 Semi-Works chassis 660043
History of chassis 660043
Chassis 660043 was one of seven XK120s built to Semi-Works specification. Jaguar supplied these cars to specially favoured customers who went on to successfully race and rally them throughout the 1950 season. They were also used to set a series of new production car speed records.
660043 was painted red and UK registered JWK 650. Its destination was Italian racing driver, Clemente Biondetti of Florence.
Biondetti began racing motorcycles in his mid 20s. He moved on to cars in 1927 and by 1931 had picked up a contract to drive for the factory Maserati team. Over the next few years, Biondetti also raced for Scuderia Ferrari and Alfa Corse.
Prior to World War 2, Biondetti earned a reputation as one of the best road racers around. Driving a works Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, he won the 1938 Mille Miglia, a feat repeated with the same car in 1947.
Biondetti then went on to win the 1948 and 1949 Mille Miglias driving for Scuderia Ferrari (first with a 166 Sport and then with a 166 Mille Miglia). The ‘48 and ‘49 Giro di Sicilias were other major road races that fell to Biondetti while driving for Enzo Ferrari.
Jaguar understandably felt they had secured something of a coup by recruiting Biondetti to drive the XK120.
His first outing with chassis 660043 was on the Giro di Sicilia (April 1st and 2nd) for which he was navigated by Gino Bronzoni. 189 cars started the 1079km loop around Sicily, but only 92 made it to the finish line. Biondetti and Bronzoni retired with engine trouble having set a blistering early pace.
Next up was the Mille Miglia (April 23rd and 24th). Jaguar arranged for four of the semi-works XK120s to appear. Biondetti was once again joined in the car by Bronzoni.
They initially ran second behind Alberto Ascari’s Ferrari 275 Sport, but several niggling issues during the event ultimately hampered progress. The most serious of these was a broken rear spring, however, Biondetti pressed on to finish a creditable eighth overall (fifth in the over two-litre Sports car class).
Chassis 660043’s last outing in 1950 was on the Coppa della Toscana which took place on a 680km loop around Tuscany. The race started and finished in Livorno. Unfortunately, Biondetti and Bronzoni failed to finish for reasons unknown.
In 1951, Biondetti used the engine from chassis 660043 to power a Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa-style special that he raced (to include outings at that year’s Giro di Sicilia and the Le Mans 24 Hours).
The by now engine-less chassis 660043 was returned to the Jaguar factory in 1953.
It was fitted with a new motor and sold to Ron Heegan who in turn passed it on to Peter Jaques.
In 1957, the car was sold to Alec Harvey-Bailey who is understood to have retained it until 1972. At this point, the XK120 went into the ownership of Brian Rutland.
The car next appeared with dealer Rod Leach over the winter of 1976-1977 and then with Lynx Motors in 1980.
In later years, chassis 660043 joined the collection of fashion designer, Ralph Lauren. It was restored with a British Racing Green over Tan colour scheme and exported to the USA.
Notable History
Red
Registered JWK 650
Supplied to Clemente Biondetti, Florence, Italy
02/04/1950 IND Giro di Sicilia (C. Biondetti / G. Bronzoni) DNF (#501)
23/04/1950 IND Mille Miglia (C. Biondetti / G. Bronzoni) 8th oa, 5th S2.0+ class (#729)
04/06/1950 IND Coppa della Toscana (C. Biondetti / G. Bronzoni) DNF (#??)
Engine used for Biondetti’s 1951 special
1953 returned to Jaguar
Fitted with a new engine and sold to Ron Heegan
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
