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2012 Shannons Sydney Summer Classic Auction
Lot
26

1953 Jaguar XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe

$70,000

Sold

Specifications

Engine In-line 6-cylinder,3442cc
Gearbox 4-speed manual
Body Work Coupe
Colour Bordeaux Red
Interior cream
Trim Leather
Wheels Wire Spoked
Brakes Drum

Description

This lot is no longer available

Jaguar's first post-war car, the XK120, was the sensation of the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show and has firmly established itself as one of the greatest sports cars of all time. From the stunning lines by Sir William Lyons to the legendary XK straight-six engine, the XK120 looked and performed like nothing else on the road and, in a Britain still struggling to recover from the dark days of the war, quickly captured the public imagination. A strong showing in competition certainly did the XK120s reputation little harm - in its most highly developed form, as the XK120-C, the Jaguar won the gruelling Le Mans 24-Hour race on no less than two occasions while standard cars were successfully campaigned all over the world. The XK120 was powered by a brand new 3.4-litre twin-cam six-cylinder engine developing 160bhp, enough to propel the Jaguar to a top speed of almost 120mph, and was initially available as a roadster before the range was expanded to include a stylish fixed-head coupe.