2023-04-20 08:24:15 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1953-jaguar-xk120-rhd-fhc-gN9BA8

Auction description:

1953 Jaguar XK120

Colour Red

Odometer 1,113 Miles

Engine size 3400

Auction DetailsSeller Type Trade

Town Cape Town

Location International

Country South Africa

Rare right-hand drive Fixed Head Coupé 

Seemingly very original, exhibiting an attractive patina

Has proved to be reliable in recent years, competing successfully in the Knysna Hill Climb sprint 

Benefits from a life spent in a dry climate

Rare right-hand drive Fixed Head Coupé 

Road registered in South Africa

1,113 miles indicated on the odometer although the exact mileage is unknown

The Interior

Upholstered in sumptuous grey leather

Attractive woodwork in very good condition

Prominent three-spoke steering wheel

On the inside, this Jaguar is a lovely place to be and it’s remarkably luxurious for a car so fast from this era. Everywhere you look there’s swathes of leather and woodwork as well as thick carpeting and solidly made controls. Everything you look at and touch feels robust, which makes you want to explore this car’s outer envelope as soon as you get behind that large, wood-rimmed steering wheel.

This car has evidently been retrimmed at some point and the seats exhibit little in the way of wear with no cracking or even any prominent creasing to report. The aforementioned dashboard is lavishly appointed and houses the Smiths instrumentation. The woodwork presents well with no excessive wear or deterioration we could see and the same can be said for the switchgear.

All the carpeting looks smart along with the door cards and headlining. Inside the boot, we find a spare wheel and a generous luggage space.

The Exterior 

Maroon paintwork

Whitewall tyres

Presents well, with a smattering of patina

The XK120 is quite the machine to behold, especially the rare Fixed Head Coupé. The flowing lines that give it wind-cheating ability really look majestic and it’s a car that can’t fail to make people stop and stare. 

With its striking maroon paintwork and whitewall tyres, this is a particularly noticeable example and it has worn very well over the years. The vendor points out some light patination, including some faint scratches, swirls and the odd blemish, but overall, it’s really smart. 

The chrome looks particularly fine and we enjoy some of the finer details such as the ‘Jaguar Cars LTD’ badging and leather bonnet strap.

Underneath, everything looks in really fine shape and this Jaguar has clearly benefited from a life spent in warmer climes. The same can be said of the bodywork generally, which doesn’t appear to display any obvious signs of corrosion.

The Mechanics 

3.4-litre DOHC straight-six

Four-speed manual gearbox

Running and driving very well indeed

The vendor comments that this is a particularly usable example that drives really rather well. Under the bonnet we find the inimitable Jaguar XK twin-cam in 3.4-litre form and all appears to be in really good order. 

We’re told that it runs smoothly and offers quite the turn of speed when required. The four-speed manual gearbox is said to be smooth and the brakes apparently work as they’re supposed to. The vendor adds that this has been a reliable car in recent years, always starting and proving to be dependable when participating in rallies and events.