1954 | Jaguar XK 120 SE OTS

This example

According to its Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate, the car shown here was manufactured on 15 March in 1954 and dispatched on 29 March to Hoffman, New York, USA. The car is presented as ordered new in the colour ‘cream’ with a red interior and a black soft top. It is a fast matching number ‘SE’ or Special Equipment model delivering 180 bhp instead of 160 bhp.

At the end of 1999 the car was exported to The Netherlands in a good solid original condition but needing restoration (see picture). In the period 2000-2002 the car was frame up restored by Dutch Jaguar specialists Kolvenbach. The restoration is well documented with invoices and many pictures. Since the restoration the car has been well maintained by Jaguar specialists. The current owner bought the car in 2012 and enjoyed it very much! He participated with this car in – among others – the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2021 Gran Premio Nuvolari rally. He informs us that he always finished without any problems.

This XK120 benefits from adjustable seats while the original seat parts are with the car. Very suitable for long drivers – 190 cm length without any problems. Furthermore the car comes with chrome wire-wheels, an extra cooling fan, fog lights, aluminium radiator, Halda tripmaster, side windows, tonneau cover and a black convertible roof. The dedicated owner spent approximately 20.000 Euro maintaining the car to a high standard over the last 12 years. The bodywork shows it has had a specialist high quality restoration and also the paintwork shows very well. The body is straight and panel fit is excellent. The engine starts on the button and shows a healthy oil pressure. The Moss gearbox is not the fastest but is a delight to use. The interior is in great condition and only has some wear on the foot carpets – the leather seats are in lovely condition. The result is a superb and fast XK120 ‘SE’ Roadster in very well prepared condition!

The car is Dutch (EEC) registered and is a matching number & colour ’Special Equipment’ model which comes with a nice history file and several spare items as described above. Furthermore the car comes with a FIVA historic passport.

The price is Euro 115.000,-. A tempting offer if you want to have a loved and cherished car suitable for enjoyable open top motoring or rallying!

Please call or app for more information or pictures.

Very Superior Old Cars is a classic sportscar consultancy company founded in 1992. We work for our customers to assist with all aspects of their car interests. From acquisition consultancy with restoration advice and management to private sales in our boutique art gallery.

VSOC is centrally located between Amsterdam and The Hague, only 17 km (11 miles) from Schiphol Airport. There is a broad selection of classic sports cars on display, in very good or excellent condition, varying from beautiful yet affordable sports cars to rare and valuable collectors’ items. When you intend to visit us in The Netherlands, we would advise you to make an appointment so that we can give you some quality time. If you arrive by plane or train, we would be happy to pick you up at the airport or train station. Besides Dutch we speak English, German, French and Italian.

Model history

When the Jaguar XK120 was launched in 1948, it was unique. The new Jaguar sports car brought racing car performance to the road, yet it did so with a level of comfort and sophistication unknown in such a vehicle. The car was intended for limited  production only to try out Jaguar’s new twin overhead camshaft engine, designated during design and development by the initials ‘XK’. In its original form, the engine gave 160bhp, sufficient to endow the XK120 with a top speed to match its name and exceptional acceleration. The car was the fastest in production in the world and at 1263 pound (including purchase tax), the exciting new performance within the reach of far more people. The Special Equipment engine with high lift camshafts produced 180bhp.

The appeal of XK’s today is probably based on such intangibles as nostalgia and style, but they can be very practical cars. The performance, even by today’s standards, is highly respectable. A top speed of 120mph is still impressive and the acceleration is surprisingly lively. Part of the XK120’s charm is its lack of body trim, which allows the pure, clean shape of the car to be fully appreciated.

The XK120 proved particularly successful in competition. In 1949 a virtually standard car achieved a speed of 126.594 miles per hour, proving the model designation ‘120’ was no overstatement. American racing driver and eventual world driving champion Phil Hill successfully campaigned an alloy XK120 Roadster in 1950, concluding the season at the inaugural Pebble Beach Cup race of 5 November 1950. Despite the loss of the car’s clutch and brakes, Hill still managed a first-place finish in a performance that truly defined his driving skill and the XK120’s competition prowess.

The Jaguar XK120 was produced in 3 body configurations: as a Open Two-Seater (OTS), a Fixed Head-Coupé (FHC) and as a Drophead Coupé (DHC).