2026-09-12 00:15:02 | Reno writes:

car is for sale from Tom Hardman

www.tomhardman.com/cars/jaguar-xk120-se-ots

Chassis: S676318

Engine: F4042-8S

Registration: 608UYR

Price: £65000

Duty: UK

Our client acquired this XK120 privately in 2004 from a private collector. At that point it was an unrestored, left-hand-drive example that had spent its life in California before being imported into the UK in 1989. Importantly, the car was substantially complete when purchased, with only some elements of the interior trim missing.

The intention from the outset was to rebuild the car properly rather than simply make it presentable. The body was removed from the chassis and the complete rolling chassis and engine entrusted to respected Jaguar specialist Guy Broad. The chassis was blasted and refinished before a comprehensive mechanical rebuild was undertaken. The engine was rebuilt with a rebore, reground crankshaft, new pistons and an exchange cylinder head, while the remainder of the mechanical components were either rebuilt, renewed or reconditioned as required. During the rebuild the XK was also converted from left- to right-hand drive. Rather than slavishly returning the car to standard specification, a number of sensible improvements were incorporated to make this a considerably more usable XK120 on modern roads. These include:

- Original S-specification engine and body

- Big-valve cylinder head

- Getrag five-speed gearbox

- E-Type front disc brakes

- Alloy fuel tank

- Multi-blade cooling fan

- Electronic ignition

- Louvered Bonnet

Once the mechanical work was completed, the original body was reunited with the refinished chassis and the car was rewired. It was then professionally repainted in British Racing Green and retrimmed in complementary green leather. As is so often the case with comprehensive restorations, work and life commitments subsequently intervened and progress slowed. In 2015 our client returned his attention to the XK with the intention of completing the car properly. The steering box was rebuilt and set up by Holman Engineering, while Track v Road in Clitheroe carried out further commissioning work including engine tuning, suspension set-up and road testing.

The XK finally returned to the road in 2017. What is particularly appealing today is just how little use it has had since. The odometer showed 26,915 miles when the project was completed and today reads 28,128 miles — meaning the car has covered only 1,213 miles since its rebuild. The result is a very attractive XK120 that combines one of Jaguar's most celebrated shapes with a specification intended to make the car genuinely enjoyable to use. The five-speed gearbox, front disc brakes, improved cooling and electronic ignition are worthwhile additions, particularly for an owner who intends to use it.