1953 Jaguar XK 120 SEPrice Upon Request
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Reference Number 451853

as of 6/14/2017

Dealer
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Jan B. Lühn  Contact  Location
Franz-Essink-Strasse 15  Phone  +49 251 2844691  City  Muenchen
48147 Muenster  Fax    State  Bayern
Germany  Mobile  +49 172 5303555  Country  Germany Germany
Overview
Car 1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE
VIN S 677020 
Exterior / Interior Color      Grey Birch Grey (first paint) /      Red Red (first leather) 
Transmission Manual Shift 
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Known History

1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE Drophead Coupe

 

Chassis S677020, Engine No. W7566-8S

 

Jaguar stunned the world with the new XK-120 roadster, the star of the 1948 Earl's Court Motor Show. Officially designated "Open Two Seater" by the company, the lithe, low roadster had a long hood and shortened haunches.

 

Faired-in headlamps were a first for the automaker, and the first examples were clothed in aluminium. Demand was immediate, and a high-speed run on the Jabbeke highway in Belgium demonstrated that "120" in the model name could easily be exceeded on the road in miles per hour. The dual overhead-cam six-cylinder engine had an aluminium head with hemispherical combustion chambers and an iron block with seven main bearings. Displacement was 3,442cc; compression of 8.0 to 1 and dual sided raft SU carburettors resulted in 160bhp at 5,000rpm.

 

U.S. deliveries began in August 1949 through the Hoffman Motor Company in New York. Increased production resulted in a change to steel bodies in 1950. Also available, was the XKI20SE, or "Special Equipment", which included wire

wheels, upgraded suspension, dual exhaust and a C- Type cylinder head. With these improvements, the XK120SE saw an increase in horsepower to 180.

 

A curvaceous Fixed Head Coupe joined the Open Two Seater in August 1951, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. Offering full weather protection with roll-up windows and a capacious luggage compartment, it was especially suited for long-distance touring.

Full fender skirts provided particularly sleek body contours, but

ruled out the use of knock-off wire wheels. Side vents were added to the body, ducting outside air into the foot wells when open, especially welcome in warm climates.

 

Bridging a gap between the Fixed Head Coupe and Open Two Seater was a new Drop Head Coupe, first shown at New York in April 1953. Stylistically, it was not as pure as either the FHC or OTS, but what it lacked in flowing lines it made up for in comfort and versatility.

 

With just 1,767 built, the Drop Head Coupe is the rarest of XK-120 variants.

 

The story of # S677020:

 

As designated by its chassis number, S677020 is a Special Equipment model, and would have been only the 20th drop head to have been built, the sequence for these starting at 677001. Almost certainly delivered to the U.S. as new, it was acquired by Charles H. Brown's mother in Lake Forest, Illinois on 28th August 1954 and has remained within their family until 2014.

 

A file of documentation with the car charts early U.S. road registrations and receipts for maintenance going back to the 1950s, and alluding to the family interest in motoring, the car still wears as Sports Car Club of America sticker in its windscreen which must date from the '50s or '60s.

 

Close inspection of the car today, both in terms of paint and its interior seems to suggest that the car was never restored, its leather while clearly old, shows only limited wear and the headlining for the convertible roof is in remarkably good order.

 

Although not proven, it seems possible that the mileage of 24.384 miles, should be from new!

 

With its single ownership until 2013 virtually from new and seemingly remarkably original and unspoilt order, this XK can almost certainly be considered as a potential preservation class candidate at the most prestigious events such as Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este or Pebble Beach, making it even more desirable.

 

Footnote: Although Mr. Brown had shipped the car to the U.K. in 1990 as a personal import, there is no evidence that it was ever re-registered for the British or European roads until 2013.

 

The present owner, a German collector, registered the car in the UK.

 

After more than 60 years in the ownership of the Brown family it is believed by Jaguar specialists that there are less than 5 car on the planet in an original condition like that.

 

Outlook

 

• Matching Number (engine, gear box, differential, body)

• Never been restored! First paint and first interior (no rust)

• 60 years in the ownership of the Brown family.

• The car comes with an unique documentation (original first sales contract and order form)

• It has German TÜV and German registration for historic registration.

• Since 2013 in the hands of a German collector.

• Less than 24.500 miles from new!

 

Technical Spec Jaguar XK 120 SE Drop Head Coupe

 

• Chassis No. S 677020

• Engine No. W 7565-8S

• Gearbox No. JL 15434

• Colour Birch Grey (First paint), Leather: Red (First leather)

• Year: 1953

• Cylinder: 6

• Displacement: 3.442 ccm

• Power: 180 HP

 

 

Price: PUR