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| Jaguar XK120 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jaguar XK120 |
| Manufacturer | Jaguar Cars |
| Production | 1948–1954 |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | Roadster, Coupe, Fixed-head coupé |
| Engine | 3.4 L XK I6 |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Predecessor | SS Jaguar 100 |
| Successor | Jaguar XK140 |
Jaguar XK120 The Jaguar XK120 is a British sports car introduced in 1948 by Jaguar Cars at the Earls Court Motor Show. Celebrated for its aluminum-bodied styling and the new 3.4‑litre XK (engine) inline-six, the model immediately attracted attention from car enthusiasts, racing teams, and celebrities such as Clark Gable and Duke of Edinburgh. Its combination of advanced engineering, coachbuilt variants, and motorsport success established Jaguar as a leading postwar marque.
Development began under founder Sir William Lyons and chief engineer William Heynes at the Wolseley/Jaguar works in Coventry. Lyons sought a sleek grand tourer to revive the company's prewar reputation after the Second World War. The new DOHC six-cylinder XK engine, designed by Heynes and Claude Baily? (note: DOHC collaboration with resources attributed in period reports), was paired with lightweight aluminum bodywork crafted on tubular steel frames. Influences from coachbuilders such as John Black at Standard Motor Company and contemporaneous designs by Ghia and Pininfarina informed the aerodynamic silhouette and flowing fenders. The prototype, registered as the XK120, was named to reflect a claimed top speed of 120 mph and was presented to press and public alongside representatives from Motor Show press corps and influential motoring editors from publications like The Autocar and Motor Sport.
Initial production began at Jaguar's Brown's Lane facility, with early cars built as open two-seater roadsters (often referred to as "Open Two-Seater"). Soon fixed-head coupé (FHC) and drophead coupé (DHC) variants were introduced. Coachbuilders and customizers such as Bertone, H.J. Mulliner & Co., Gurney Nutting, James Young and Salmon produced bespoke bodies and interiors. Export markets, notably United States dealers and private customers, influenced incremental changes including left-hand drive conversions and equipment upgrades. Special competition editions were prepared by works teams and privateers; these often used lightened bodies and tuned XK engines.
The XK120 was powered by Jaguar's new 3.4-litre inline-six XK engine featuring dual overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion chambers, and twin SU or later triple carburettors as used by teams such as Ecurie Ecosse and private entrants. The engine produced between 160 bhp in standard tune and upwards of 210 bhp in race specification installations undertaken by engineers from Jaguar Racing and independent tuners like Weber-equipped shops. The chassis used a boxed ladder frame with independent front suspension utilizing wishbones and torsion bars, a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and hydraulic drum brakes supplied by Lockheed; later models could be fitted with optional disc brakes in experimental applications by Jaguar engineers. Transmissions included four-speed manuals with optional overdrive, a setup familiar to drivers coming from Riley and Aston Martin products.
On public roads and tracks the XK120 quickly established a reputation for high-speed stability and long-distance capability. Works-prepared cars contested endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mille Miglia, 24 Hours of Spa, and many national hillclimbs and rallies entering under banners like Jaguar Works and private teams including Ecurie Ecosse. Drivers such as Norman Dewis, Leslie Johnson, and Stirling Moss campaigned XK120s with notable success, often competing against Ferrari, Aston Martin DB2, and Porsche entries. Road test reporters and racers quoted top speeds up to and beyond 120 mph in favorable conditions; tuned competition cars recorded higher velocities in timed runs and speed trials at venues such as Bonneville Salt Flats and Montlhéry.
Critical reception in periodicals such as The Times motoring columns and Autocar reviews praised the XK120's combination of performance, handling, and style. Commercially, the model re-established Jaguar's export strength into markets like the United States, influencing subsequent models including the XK140 and the iconic E-Type. Collectors, classic car clubs such as the Jaguar Drivers Club and concours organizations including Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Goodwood have since celebrated the XK120, preserving important examples in museums like the British Motor Museum and private collections of figures such as Earl Howe. The XK120's engineering lineage lived on through later Jaguar engines used in XJ saloons and competition programmes.
Noteworthy bespoke and competition examples include the lightweight alloy bodied XK120s prepared by John Cobb's team for record attempts, coachbuilt coupés by Gordon Buehrig-influenced studios, and works racers entered by Jaguar Works and privateers such as Ecurie Ecosse. Commissioned specials by Luxurious coachbuilders included unique trim and coachwork by H.J. Mulliner & Co., Gurney Nutting, James Young, and continental houses like Pinin Farina and Vignale. Several one-off prototypes and road racers have achieved celebrity status at historic events run by Hagerty-associated festivals and preservation trusts.
The XK120 has appeared in films, television and print, associated with stars such as Clark Gable and scenes in motion pictures alongside talent represented by studios like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 20th Century Fox. Period dramas set in the late 1940s and 1950s often feature XK120s in sequences filmed at locations such as Silverstone and Goodwood Circuit; the model figures in autobiographies of racing drivers and histories published by houses including Haynes Publishing and Osprey Publishing. Enthusiast communities, registries maintained by organisations like the Jaguar Heritage Trust and specialist auction houses such as RM Sotheby's continue to document provenance, sales records, and restorations.
Category:Jaguar vehicles Category:Sports cars