One to Buy: ex-Robert Lawrie 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours Jaguar XK120 Le Mans Roadster
Having cleaned up in a one hour production car race that supported the BRDC International Trophy for Grand Prix cars at Silverstone during August 1949, Jaguar boss William Lyons commissioned a batch of specially enhanced works-supported XK120s for the 1950 season.
The performance of these cars, in particular at the Le Mans 24 Hours, convinced Lyons to in turn create the legendary C-type for 1951.
Three C-types were wheeled out for the model’s competition debut at Le Mans in 1951, alongside which was a privately entered XK120 owned by Robert Lawrie who had previously raced at la Sarhe with an Aston Martin 2-litre Sport and Riley RMC in 1949 and ‘50 (finishing 11th and 17th respectively).
Lawrie’s XK120, chassis 660449, received a number of enhancements before the the race to include a quick fuel filler cap, C-type head, access holes in the hood and wire instead of disc wheels.
Robert Lawrie teamed up with Ivan Waller for the 1951 Le Mans race; they completed the event at an average speed of 132.8kmh and were only delayed by unscheduled stops for some brake adjustments and repairs to a blowing exhaust.
At 4pm on Sunday, chassis 660449 crossed the line in eleventh posiion. It claimed sixth in the five-litre Sport class and would become the best placed XK120 to ever finish at Le Mans.
Today, this most significant XK120 is on offer at the Duncan Hamilton ROFGO showroom in Micheldever, Hampshire.
It is presented in concours race-ready condition and is eligible for some of the most exciting events on the historic racing calendar.
Reprinted below is Duncan Hamilton ROFGO’s description for this historic XK120 racing car:
1951 JAGUAR XK120 LE MANS COMPETITION ROADSTER 'AEN 546'
THE HIGHEST PLACED XK120 EVER AT LE MANS - BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED
Chassis 660449 was race-prepared by the Jaguar Factory for the 1951 Le Mans 24hr – running race number 21, in sequence with the works C-types. At the event it became the first ever XK120 to run on wire wheels, and was equipped with many unique factory features, including Le Mans fuel filler, C-type head and three large access holes in the bonnet. It is one of only five XK120's ever to race at Le Mans, and is the highest placed of all, taking 11th overall.
Now in concours condition, ‘AEN 546’ is eligible for the world’s greatest events, including Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic. And importantly, it continues to wear its original Le Mans registration of 'AEN 546'. 2023 marks 75 years of the XK120, and AEN would surely be the belle of any 120 anniversary ball!
