One to Buy: Pastel Green 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster
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When Jaguar unveiled the XK120 prototype at the London Motor Show in October 1948, company boss William Lyons expected the rakish machine to serve as little more than a useful publicity exercise. However, with its sensational aerodynamically profiled body and anticipated 120mph top speed, a huge volume of potential buyers expressed interest and the decision was quickly made to build a production version.
The first customer cars began to emerge from Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in Coventry during the summer of 1949 and, over the course of the next five years, an impressive 12,000 XK120s were sold around the world.
In addition to the original Roadster variant Jaguar went on to offer a Fixed Head Coupe (March 1951) which was in turn followed by a Drop Head Coupe a little under two years later (January 1953).
One of the most desirable options offered on the XK120 was the Special Equipment pack available from June 1951. It featured a raised 9.0:1 compression ratio, high lift camshafts, a lightweight flywheel, stiffer rear springs and a dual exhaust system. Peak output was 180bhp at 5300rpm and 203lb-ft at 4000rpm compared to 160bhp at 5000rpm and 195lb-ft at 2500rpm for the standard car.
Currently on offer at the Autosport Designs showroom in Long Island, New York, is a 1953 Roadster original ordered with the Special Equipment option and finished in arguably the best colour for one of these cars: Pastel Green with Suede Green interior.
Also configured with painted wire wheels (an option from March 1951), this exceptional machine was built on August 27th 1953 and sold via Jaguar’s New York-based distributor, Max Hoffman, to Charles Krauss of Cresskill, New Jersey. Having been extensively restored in the early 1990s, this fabulous example represents a rare opportunity to acquire an XK120 with arguably the most desirable specification imaginable.
