2006-04-10 05:02:24 | Lofty writes:

BRIEF HISTORY DETAILS
This 120 DHC has been built by Abbot of Farnham on special order.
This is the only documented open 4 seater in the world.
It has a full aluminium bodywork on an ashframe.
Overall lenght 15 in
Overall width 5 ft 1 1/2 in
Wheelbase 8 feet 6 inch
Weight 2220 LB
This car was lost for 25 years and found about 4 years ago by Upperclassics Nz Ltd. The car when found was tired but complete as the picture will show. It was parked in a shed after it had blown its headgasket.
This coachwork was built by Abbot of Farnham who were known for their one-off Bentley and Rolls-Royce bodies. The running chassis was delivered by Jaguar to Abbot who built this body for a New Zealand businessman. As an extra it came with a towbar which was put back during restoration.
A very thorough restoration has been carried out to bring to this unique car back to its original state as shown on pictures in several Jaguar books (eg Mickael Forstick's "The Jaguar Tradition" or Roland Urban's "Les Metamorphoses du Jaguar")
This car predates Jaguars own DHC by two years which make some books state that this car might have been used as a template for its own DHC.

RESTORATION DETAILS
Restored by Upperclassics Nz Ltd over a period of 2.5 years.
About 5,000 man hours invested
Full frame off retoration
Metalfinish: replaced inner/outer sills, rearwings, lower half of front wings, bonnet and the A- and B-posts.
Replacement of the ash woodwork where needed.
Full reconditionning of mechanics and drivetrain.
Full reconditionning of suspension and brakes.
New leather interior and mohair softtop.

2008-06-18 20:41:30 | Anonymous writes:

For sale 6-18-2008,
Www.xk120abbott.com


Engine number: W 3023-7 (matching)
Location Waalwijk,Netherlands

Chassis number: 660750 (matching)
Gearbox number: JH 5703 (matching)

2008-11-04 19:56:58 | pauls writes:

Car also listed for sale at:
www.prewarcar.com/pre1966/show_postwar_car.asp

Sellers description:
Hereby we proudly present an important masterpiece of post war British coach building. Based upon the famous Jaguar XK 120 OTS chassis the Sussex based firm Abbot of Farnham, created this fine four-seater drop head convertible in the year 1951. This automobile saw the light of day two years before Jaguar cars presented the Jaguar XK 120 drop head coupe two-seater. Only one Jaguar XK 120 four-seater DHC has been built by Abbott. The project was commissioned by Mr. Mitchell, a businessman from New Zealand. This fine automobile is mentioned and shown in photographs in a variety of important books about Jaguar and the Jaguar XK 120 in particular. The Jaguar XK 120 Abbott was found sitting in a barn in the year 2002. Starting in late 2002 the automobile was restored to the highest standards by a world renown restoration company from Christchurch new Zealand. The full frame-off restoration took over 5000 hours to be completed early 2006. At the 2007 Essen Techno Classica the Abbott won the first prize as best restored car of the show. Various classic car magazines published about this unique Jaguar XK 120 Abbott. Octane Magazine printed a beautiful five page article in issue 47 of May 2007. Since the year 2006 the Jaguar is part of a private collection in Belgium. Because the collection focus is shifting to pre war British automobiles the owner decided to sell this unique 1951 Jaguar XK 120 Abbott four-seater DHC. Original and current specifications Engine: Jaguar XK six cylinder engine with twin overhead camshafts (DOHC) Cylinder capacity: 3442 cc. Capacity: 160 bhp at 5400 rpm. Gearbox: 4-speed, manually operated. Weight: 1450 kg. Exterior colour: Cream (as original) Interior: red leather (as original) Hood and side screens: red (as original) Date of manufacture (chassis): April 17, 1951 Date of first registration: July 15, 1952 Engine number: W 3023-7 (matching) Chassis number: 660750 (matching) Gearbox number: JH 5703 (matching) Extra’s (as fitted by Abbott): fog lamps, tow bar. We can conclude that this fine and unique Jaguar XK 120 Abbott is brand new show condition throughout. A potential prize winner on any important Concourse d’ Elegance worldwide. Matching numbers, and restored with utmost precision. The presence of a complete history file, Heritage certificate, articles in books and magazines, and the extensive restoration reportage, give convincing insight about the importance of this unique Jaguar. for more info and picture see our website WWW.XK120ABBOTT.COM

2009-10-19 09:56:26 | pauls writes:

History of ownership listed at:
www.xk120abbott.com/chronology.html

2010-02-01 20:42:43 | pauls writes:

More on the mention above about Octane Magazine article. The book is "Jaguar the complete story" by the publishers of Octane magazine. Can find no ISBN number, its paperback, says MAGBOOK on the cover, retail USD12.99. The link above now says the car is sold.

2012-05-10 14:41:32 | pauls writes:

The Market Observer in the May 2012 edition of the XK Gazette reports that the car has re-emerged at Lex Classics of Holland.

2012-10-10 16:24:36 | pauls writes:

URL for above dealer:
www.lexclassics.nl/en/for-sale/1951_jaguar_xk120_abbott/

2016-08-21 20:12:26 | pauls writes:

Now offered at;
www.houtkamp.nl/0-expected-soon-1951-jaguar-xk-120-dhc-abbott-four-seater-design ...

Sellers description:
JAGUARS NEVER BUILT AN XK120 FOUR-SEATER. ONE EXTRAORDINARY XK120 FOUR-SEATER WAS DESIGNED ON SPECIAL ORDER BY ABBOTT OF FARNHAM A UNIQUE EXAMPLE IN BRAND NEW CONDITION!

Color Cream
Interior Red
Year of build 1951
Price € 245.000,-

An important masterpiece of post war British coach building
Mentioned and shown in photographs in a variety of important books about Jaguar and the Jaguar XK 120 in particular
Restored in New Zeeland to probably the highest standard possible
A fine and unique Jaguar in brand new show condition throughout
A potential prize winner on any important Concourse d' Elegance worldwide
Matching numbers, Engine number: W 3023-7 (matching), Chassis number: 660750 (matching), Gearbox number: JH 5703 (matching)
Original color scheme
With Heritage certificate, articles in books and magazines and an extensive restoration reportage

This XK120 is an important masterpiece of post war British coach building. The car is based upon the famous Jaguar XK 120 OTS chassis. The chassis went in 1951 from Jaguar straight to the Sussex based firm Abbot of Farnham. They created in order of a customer (Mr. Mitchell from New Zeeland) a very special four-seater drop head convertible.
This special ordered custom built Jaguar was finished two years before Jaguar cars presented the Jaguar XK 120 drop head coupe two-seater.
Only one Jaguar XK 120 four-seater DHC has been built by Abbott.

The Jaguar XK 120 Abbott was found in a barn in 2002. At the end of 2002, the restoration of the Jaguar started to the highest possible standards by a world renown restoration company from Christchurch New Zealand.
The full frame-off restoration took over 5000 hours to be completed early 2006. At the 2007 Essen Techno Classica the Abbott won the first prize as best restored car of the show. Various classic car magazines published about this unique Jaguar XK 120 Abbott.
Abbott was a traditional coach builder in these days and could be remembered for the estate car conversions it built on big Fords during the 1950s and '60s, which were marketed under the Farnham name (Abbott was based near Farnham in Surrey, UK). The company's history encompasses many glamorous names and Bentley, Bristol, Nash-BMW, Lagonda and Rolls-Royce were just a few of the marques bodied by Abbott.

ED Abbott founded the company in October 1929 but its origins go back much further and the company has its roots at the very start of the motor industry. In the late 1920s a contract came in from Lagonda, to build the standard coachwork for its Rapier, and this was followed by other regular work from Frazer Nash-BMW and Talbot. Its high-profile customers included ex-prime minister David Lloyd George and writer Rudyard Kipling, who both ordered Abbott-bodies Rolls-Royces.
Following the wishes of Mr. Mitchell Abbott to create an all-new four-seater bodywork inspired by the ravishing lines of the Jaguar XK 120. All panels were hand beaten of aluminium sheet and fitted on an ash frame. The Abbott design was subtly lengthened to create extra space for the additional rear seats. This could not be done without altering the lines of the original XK 120 design. To realize excellent proportions Abbott rounded the original straight slope of the front wings and made them carry on lower towards the end of the doors. From there on the waist line was made to curve up more expressively as original and sweeping down over longer stretched rear wings. The extra length was created by placing the boot further behind on the chassis. The added length was brilliantly hidden within the shape of the rear wings. Optically this design solution was complimented by oval shaped spats covering the rear wheels. The result was a surprisingly balanced and harmonious design.
The interior was especially fabricated for the Abbott and the design was largely taken over from the XK 120 OTS. The rear bench was of course unique and it followed the shape of the front seats. The dashboard was given a varnished walnut veneer facia with the same overall layout as the XK 120 OTS. All bright work at the exterior were XK 120 OTS items except for the unique windscreen frame.
Most of the other parts used to built the XK 120 four-seater were also early Jaguar XK 120 items except for the door locks which were borrowed from the 'Jaguar' SS90/SS100 models. The drop head convertible top had been tailor made for the Abbott. Keep in mind that this automobile saw the light of life a year before the (two-seater) Jaguar XK 120 drop head coupe (DHC) was presented!
As ordered by Mr. Mitchell the automobile was fitted with extras like a pair of fog lamps, a radio, and a tow bar. Abbott completed their work on the special XK 120 early 1952, as they had the car shipped to Mr. Mitchell in New Zealand.

ABOUT THE RESTORATION
The Jaguar has been built up to the highest possible standards. Perfect inside and out. All new wiring was fitted. Nuts and bolts, screws, washers and other small parts of the original type were used.
The restoration took about 5.000 hours of work. More than a 1000 digital pictures are available.
After thirty years on the road the owner decided to restore the Jaguar. He moved the car to a barn where it was partly dismantled and stripped of paint. For some reason the owner changed his mind. He left the car alone and the next twenty years the Jaguar sat quietly in it's Christchurch barn. After discovery by a local restorer in the year 2002 the car was acquired and an extensive restoration followed.
Before the start of the restoration, the car was studied in detail. Crucial information was found in books and in old photographs. All original parts were put together to see if the car was still complete. It was complete, even the side screens were still around. The hood frame was found to be heavily twisted, and the boot lid had been exchanged with a badly fitting XK 140 item in the past.
The Jaguar was fully dismantled in a photographic recorded process and the body was taken off the chassis. The body and chassis were stripped off paint completely and the bright work was stripped of old chrome.
The ash frame has been fully restored and conserved. The original body panels were repaired and new panels were hand beaten from aluminium sheet. The body job was carried out meticulously, the shape had to be perfect in this phase. All panels and bright work were mounted to check for perfect fit.
The body base structure and the panels were primed with special epoxy for aluminium.
Epoxy is the best primer to protect and conserve the metal. After that a layer of spray filler was applied and sanded way down to smoothen the body. The restoration has been carried out with a minimal amount of filler (thin and crisp restoration). The bodywork was primed, sanded, painted cream white (glasslike).
All chrome parts, including the special Abbott windscreen frame and grille, were stripped of old chrome and triple plated to perfection.
The chassis was sand blasted inside and out, meticulously cleaned, primed and spray painted black according to original specifications. The inside of the tubular chassis was extensively corrosion proofed. Fuel tank has been recreated using the original example.
All mechanics, engine, gearbox, rear axle, steering gear and brake system were fully restored and overhauled within the smallest tolerances. The engine was given some mechanical upgrades like forged pistons. Dyno-tested for three hours before it was mounted to the car.
A new walnut veneer varnished wooden dashboard was fabricated, as original. All gauges like the odometer, speedometer, rev. counter and all switches have been taken apart for full restoration, overhaul, and calibration.
The seat frames, springs and inner material were fully restored and renewed. The seats, rear bench, door panels, dash top and bottom were upholstered with first class red Connolly leather. The floor was upholstered with fine red wool carpet.
The hood frame was stripped of paint repaired and fully restored as were the side screen frames. The soft top, side screen trim and the tonneau cover have been crafted from the highest quality mohair.
We can conclude that this fine and unique Jaguar XK 120 Abbott is in a brand new show condition throughout. A potential prize winner on any important Concourse d' Elegance worldwide. Matching numbers, and restored with utmost precision. The presence of a complete history file, Heritage certificate, articles in books and magazines, and the extensive restoration reportage, give convincing insight about the importance of this unique Jaguar.

CONDITION EXTERIOR
We can be very short about the condition of the exterior of the car as every single detail is in a mint condition. The panel fits are excellent, the chrome is in excellent condition even as the windows, the wheels etc. etc.

CONDITION INTERIOR
The interior is even as the exterior in a brand new condition. All the materials used are period correct and in as new condition. The special Abbott designed wooden dashboard is also as new and all the meters and gauges are in a perfect working order.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Most of the time a just restored car is not driving very well just because everything has to be set.

In this case it is completely different. The car is in the condition of a mint top concours car but the driving is as perfect as from a just prepared holiday/rally car. Absolutely amazing and difficult to describe how superb this Jaguar is driving.

2019-02-12 14:12:38 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.classicdriver.com/en/car/jaguar/xk-120/1951/609026

Year of manufacture  1/1951

Mileage  850 mi / 1 368 km

Convertible / Roadster

Chassis number  660750

Drive  RHD

Condition  Used with guarantee

Interior colour  Red

Interior type  Leather

Exterior colour White

Gearbox Manual

1951 Jaguar XK120 DHOC Abbott 3442cc Petrol Engine RHD

Finished in Cream paintwork with a Red leather interior this fine example is in exceptional condition throughout. Has matching numbers along with being restored with the utmost precision, the presence of complete history file, Heritage certificate along with being in books and magazines really give a convincing insight about the importance of this unique Jaguar

2023-10-15 13:25:18 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.classicmobilia.com/classic-car-sourcing/jaguar-xk120-dhc-abbott/

Seller's description:

1951 Jaguar XK120 Four-seat Drophead Coupé

Coachwork by E.D Abbott of Farnham

Chassis no. 660750

Engine no. W3023-7

•The only four-seater Jaguar XK120

•Unique aluminium coachwork by Abbott

•Delivered new to New Zealand.

•Documented ownership history

•Extensive restoration by Upper Classics

•'Best Restored Car' at Techno Classica Essen in 2007

Old Farm Park Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK7 8RE United Kingdom

Otherwise mostly a repeat of what is already known