1950 | Jaguar XK 120 OTS

This is the very first alloy bodied Jaguar XK120 we’ve offered onto the market in over 30 years in the classic car industry. This is 1 of just 57 right hand drive alloy XK120 Roadsters, and this exceptional fully rebuilt example has an incredible detailed history having travelled the World. A Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate confirms this early car was built on the 7th April 1950 in right hand drive specification and was registered in Coventry JWK 377. The XK was supplied new to Captain Jim Atkinson and exported to Austria and is one of the few cars apart from Works cars to be given a UK registration mark prior to export, a registration mark very close to those of various ‘works’ XK120’s.

The XK has a fascinating history and story, already very special being an early alloy car, its first owner in Austria raced and rallied extensively. The first owner won the Internationalen StraBenrennen (International Street Race for sportscars) at Leiferinger track near Saltzburg on the 1st May 1952, beating Kurt Zeller in his Ferrari. In 1953 Jim Atkinson entered the XK into the Zirler Berg Hill Climb with the car numbered 190. Its well-travelled first owner subsequently took the XK to Singapore where it continued to be raced and rallied, the XK took part in the Gap Hill Climb in 1956 and in 1958 the Road Time Trial in Lim Chu Kang. An incredibly well documented history file contains photographs and records of its interesting early racing life.

In 1970 the XK was shipped to Hong Kong, now in fairly poor condition having lived a very adventurous early life. Jim Atkinson returned to Austria with the car for retirement in 1976 and it was then parked up in an underground garage car park below his house and rarely used. On the passing of its first owner, the was car was sold a gentleman called Rolf Opholt who carried out some partial restoration but in 2000 the XK was sold to the most recent owner, a prominent Jaguar Club expert who commissioned a full, top class restoration to be carried out by some of the most renowned Jaguar experts.

JWK377 arrived back in the UK after 50 years overseas and the research began. The most recent owner has spent countless hours retracing the cars steps through its racing and rallying life, collating a log of all the registrations it had back to its original UK plate. The restoration was carried out to the highest of standards with no expense spared, the owner considerate for who he wanted to be involved with the restoration of this very rare, special rare car.

In 2001 Jaguar XK specialists XK Developments in Gloucestershire began the 830-hour no-expense-spared restoration taking the car back to its original specification, using various experts for certain aspects of the work. Les Trafford, an XK engine specialist of 30 years rebuilt the engine and gearbox, and the body was completely rebuilt by renowned World Jaguar body panel and rebuild expert John Brown of Leaping Cats. The body was painted by a local restoration firm and the finish remains exceptional today. This first-class restoration took five years to complete has been fully documented with invoices, photos, and communication of the progress throughout and we can confirm the condition almost 20 years on is exquisite throughout. The chassis is exceptional, the body beautiful and perfectly straight with excellent gaps. The paint finish, chrome and level of detail is beautiful, the Connolly leather upholstery stunning, the car simply gleams and is equipped with full weather equipment. On the road JWK 377 is equally as impressive and has proven completely reliable for long distance touring. Mechanically in excellent order, this is a properly maintained car that has not only been rebuilt with no expense spared, but also maintained at the same level of diligence.

Having covered less than 7000 miles since its professional restoration, with history dating back to its manufacture, and a wealth of accompanying correspondence tracing this car throughout its very well-travelled life, this truly is an unrepeatable one-off opportunity to acquire an incredibly special, rare beautifully presented Aluminium bodied XK120 that still retains its original 'matching numbers' engine block and gearbox.