2013-01-10 13:17:57 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 2/13
www.bonhams.com/auctions/20924/lot/530/

Auction description:
7 Feb 2013 16:30 CET Paris, The Grand Palais
Cars
Lot 530
Single Brown family ownership since 1954
1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe
Chassis No. S677020
Engine No. W7566-8S

As designated by its chassis number, S677020 is a Special Equipment model, and would have been only the 20th drophead to have been built, the sequence for these starting at 677001. Almost certainly delivered to the U.S. as new, it was acquired by Charles H. Brown's mother in Lake Forest, Illinois on 28th August 1954 and has remained within their family ever since. A file of documentation with the car charts early U.S. road registrations and receipts for maintenance going back to the 1950s, and alluding to the family interest in motoring, the car still wears as Sports Car Club of America sticker in its windscreen which must date from the '50s or '60s.

Close inspection of the car today, both in terms of paint and its interior seems to suggest that the car was never restored, its leather while clearly old, shows only limited wear and the headlining for the convertible roof is in remarkably good order. Although not proven, it seems possible that the mileage which reads in the low teens, could be from new.

With its single ownership virtually from new and seemingly remarkably original and unspoilt order, this XK can almost certainly be considered as a potential preservation class candidate, making it all the more desirable.

Footnote: Although Mr. Brown had shipped the car to the U.K. in 1990 as a personal import, there is no evidence that it was ever re-registered for the British or European roads, which will need to be accomplished by the buyer, Bonhams can assist with this aspect if necessary.
Estimate:
€60,000 - 80,000
£49,000 - 65,000
US$ 79,000 - 100,000
1953 Jaguar XK120 cabriolet
Chassis no. S677020
Engine no. W7566-8S

2013-01-11 06:21:49 | John Elmgreen writes:

Note that the engine number is W7565-8S as stated in the box above - from the JHT certificate - and not W7566-8S as Bonhams stated.

2013-02-16 11:37:03 | Anonymous writes:

Sold for EUR 93,150 inc. premium

2014-12-05 19:21:29 | Anonymous writes:

Plus Tax plus Tax France Handling Bonhams plus Tax USA to Germany and Transport
and Mst Tax Germany 118,500,00 €

2019-09-21 12:14:03 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auctoin 10/19

rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf19/london/lots/r0071-1953-jaguar-xk-120-drophead-co ...%C3%A9/819747

Auction: Oct 24, 2019

Lot Number 126

Location: London, United Kingdom

£90,000 - £130,000

Chassis No. S 677020

Engine No. W 7565-8S

Gearbox No. JL 15434

Exterior: Birch grey

Just two owners from new; nearly sixty years of prior single ownership

Highly original, including original paintwork and interior

An ideal candidate for the preservation class at shows and concours

Registration and maintenance records dating to the 1950s

This left-hand-drive Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé, finished in Birch Grey over red leather, was built 12 March 1953 and dispatched to Los Angeles, California, on 26 March 1953 through the West Coast distributor, Charles Hornburg.

As designated by its chassis number, S 677020, this is a Special Equipment model, making it the 20th drophead coupé built, the sequence for these starting at 677001. It was ordered by Bertha A. Brown in Lake Forest, Illinois, on 28 August 1954 and remained with her family, passing to her son Charles, until 2013, when it was purchased by the consignor, a very well-respected collector of British sports cars.

A file of documentation with the car retains early U.S. road registrations and receipts for maintenance going back to the 1950s, and, alluding to the family interest in motoring, the car still wears a Sports Car Club of America sticker in its windscreen. Close inspection of the car today, both in terms of paint and its interior, seems to suggest that the car was never restored, although the wheels have been painted. The leather, while clearly old, shows only limited wear and boasts incredible patina, and the headlining for the convertible roof is in remarkably outstanding order.

A document file includes the handwritten order form, the car invoice from 28 August 1954, and early registrations as well as maintenance receipts dating to the 1950s.The wooden panels of the dashboard have been replaced, but the original panels come with the car. This Jaguar should prove an ideal candidate for a preservation class, adding to its desirability.

After almost 60 years in the ownership of the Brown family, it is believed by Jaguar specialists that there are less than a handful of such cars on the planet in original condition like S 677020.

Sold at £92,000

2026-10-03 15:51:14 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 10/26

www.classicdriver.com/en/car/jaguar/xk-120/1953/1128622

1953 Jaguar XK 120

XK 120 SE Drophead CoupéRM Sotheby's - The London Auction 2026

London | 31 October

Estimate USD 92 576 - 105 802

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The London Auction event, 31 October 2026.

Desirable high-performance Special Equipment model rated at 180 horsepower

A rare unrestored example; wears its original factory colours of Birch Grey over Red leather, complemented by a French Grey roof

Boasts single family ownership in Illinois, United States from 1954 until 2013

Offered with copies of original invoices, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT) Certificate, and Illinois state title; plus tool roll, jack, wheel nut mallet, and spare wheel

Please note if this vehicle is exported outside of the UK an export license will be required.

Denoted by the “S” prefix, chassis number S 677020 offered here is a high-performance Special Equipment model. Compared to the standard XK 120, which had launched as the fastest production car in the world, SE examples gained higher-lift camshafts, a lightened flywheel, and dual exhaust pipes to increase output from 160 to 180 horsepower.

Recorded on the accompanying copy of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT) Certificate, chassis number S 677020 holds a 12 March 1953 date of manufacture. Built in left-hand-drive form for the United States, it was handsomely finished in Birch Grey with a French Grey soft top roof over a Red leather interior. Two weeks later, the XK 120 SE was dispatched to Los Angeles, California via West Coast distributor Charles Hornburg.

Supported by a copy of the original invoice dated to 28 August 1954, the Jaguar was purchased used from British motor car dealer S H Arnolt of Chicago, Illinois by Ms Bertha A Brown in Lake Forest. Living on the shores of Lake Michigan, Ms Brown offered a 1951 Nash Rambler Convertible in part-exchange for the XK 120 SE.

The Jaguar would remain in the Brown family for 60 years, with a copy of an Illinois state title confirming that custodianship had passed to Bertha’s son Charles A Brown Jr in March 1981. He had the car exported in 1990 to the United Kingdom, where it was stored for two decades. It was subsequently bought by a collector of British sports cars in 2013 and then registered for road use with the numberplate “914 YUT”.

Purchased by the vendor at RM Sotheby’s London auction in October 2019, chassis S 677020 continues to stand out as a paragon of preservation. Having never been restored, the car still wears what is strongly believed to be its original Birch Grey paintwork and Red interior. In addition, the odometer reading of 24,442 miles at the time of cataloguing is believed to be genuine. Invoices, available to view on file, track a linear rise from 6,975 miles in October 1954 through to 21,174 in October 1991.

Further accompanied by a tool roll, wheel nut mallet, jack, and spare wheel, this beautifully preserved XK 120 SE Drophead Coupé would be an ideal contender in concours events, not least owing to its outstanding originality.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/lf26/.