1953 Jaguar XK120 Roadster With Cosmetic and Performance Upgrades

While Jaguar's pre-World War II SS100 had established the British automaker's sports car credentials, it was the first postwar model, the XK120, that really shook up the category. Jaguar head William Lyons designed the body. William Heynes headed up engineering for the XK DOHC inline-six that would give Jaguar five outright victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the 1950s and power its production models for four decades. The 120 indicated the sports car's top speed, a feat Jaguar publicly demonstrated and promoted extensively. The XK120 became a low-volume production car, with just over 12,000 made through 1954. The seller of this 1953 Jaguar XK120 Open Two-Seater (OTS, also called the Roadster) reports being the third owner, having acquired it from the well-known collection of the second owner. - the car as very original with no history of rust or accidents. As photos show, one major addition is a custom headrest fairing, which the seller describes below. He notes several mechanical upgrades for better drivability and reliability plus some recent services, all performed by Ragtops & Roadsters, a British car specialty shop in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. - I has driven this Jaguar less than 1,000 miles over the past 11 years. He entered it in just one event, a gathering of English classics where it won the People's Choice Award. The 3.4-liter DOHC inline-six XK engine used two SU carburetors and was rated at 160 horsepower by the manufacturer when new.- that the Jaguar's engine is original and runs beautifully. Modifications include a 12-volt conversion with an alternator replacing the generator, and electronic ignition. Also, modern air filters are fitted, and the seller will include the original generator and mesh-type air filters. When cold, the engine is stubborn, but when warmed, it runs like a charm with no smoke. There is the predictable weep at the differential. Apart from that, the car is well behaved. The four-speed manual transmission works fine. The XK120 OTS (Roadster) uses a simpler top than the full convertible model (Drophead Coupe) and has removable side curtains. The green paint's history is unknown, but the seller states that is the original color and that the finish is very good overall with a bit of rash and some dimples. The top uses the original framework with a newer covering, he reports.- that he had the dual headrest fairing custom-made in England. Once the head rest blanks were state side, I had Ragtops & Roadsters custom-fit them to the Jaguar, the seller states. They were painted to match the body. - the glass is in good shape. The side curtains were redone by a top upholsterer, and they look brand new. - no leaks in the car, and photos show no apparent leak damage. The doors do not sag, , addressing a known issue for these cars. The mechanic says there is no sign of the vehicle ever having been in an accident, . The lighting works except for one turn signal. - The tan leather interior appears to have been restored at some point before the seller bought the car, and it appears in very good condition. - the seat adjustments work. The carpeting is described as good, with photos showing some minor staining in the driver's-side footwell area. Seatbelts were installed for added safety.- the heat and clock do not function. - The XK120 used torsion bars for its front suspension and a solid rear axle on leaf springs. The seller replaced the original steel rims with Dayton Wire Wheels, which have no pitting. The Coker Classic radial whitewall tires appear to have 2016 date codes. - unspecified front brake upgrades, along with replacement of all front-end bushings, general chassis lubrication, and sundry of other items.- no play in the unassisted steering and says the Jag drives with a solid feel. Detailed itemization of work performed by Ragtops & Roadsters will be included in the sale. This 1953 Jaguar XK120 Open Two-Seater came near the end of the model's run, before the XK140 replaced it. It was a landmark sports car when new and remains a desirable classic today. Fitted with the custom headrests and some reliability upgrades, this one appears ready for touring and showing.