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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special - If you can't buy it - build it!

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Created on May 14, 2025

Reading time 14min

Written by:

Martin Sigrist

Photos:

Vesa Eskola

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Archiv Christian Jenny

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Pendine

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John Mann

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pendine

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Bruno von Rotz

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shooterz.biz

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Archiv

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Vesa Eskola

39

Archiv Christian Jenny

7

Pendine

5

John Mann

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pendine

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Bruno von Rotz

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shooterz.biz

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Archiv

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Für einen ehemaligen Rennwagen erstaunlich gutmütig

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Die Scheinwerfer sind ein Zugeständnis an den Strassengebrauch

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Die Scheinwerfer sitzen hinter Gittern

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Heute ist eher Touring statt Racing angesagt

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Mit nur 950 Kilogramm ist der Wagen bis heute überaus agil

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Wird heute auf der Strasse gefahren

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Die Motorhaube gibt den gesamten Vorderwagen frei, ideal beim Renneinsatz

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Das Reserverad war Pflicht für die Homologation

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Form follows Function

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Keine Spur von Eigenbau, der Special wirkt wie aus einem Guss

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Zweckform, professionell ausgeführt

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Aluminium-Leichtbau

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Auspuff unter dem Karosserieblech

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Der SCCA war von europäischen Autos geprägt

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Der Special behielt die Identität des Spenderfahrzeuges bei

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Erinnerungsplakette für ein denkwürdiges Rennen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Flache Lenkradnabe statt Bombe wie beim 120er, die aufs Brustbein zielt

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Hansgen wählte eine Zahnstangenlenkung für bessere Lenkpräzision

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Heute sitzt ein 3.4-Liter XK-Motor aus einem 140er oder Mk 7 im Special

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Lucas-Elektrik wie beim XK120

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Macht keinen Hehl aus dem Ursprung - Jaguar Growler auf der Lenkradnabe

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Mechaniker Pete Heath, Restaurator Georg Dönni und Besitzer Christian Jenny

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Original-Armaturenbrett aus Hansgens Spender-XK120 Quicksilver

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Originale Jaguar-Vorderradaufhängung mit Kugelbolzen und Drehstabfederung

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Originalkrümmer mit adaptierten Flexrohren

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Redline bei 6000 für den XK-DOHC-Motor

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Siata-Schnellverschlüsse für die Tanks

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Sicher ist sicher, die Feuerlöschanlage wurde nachgerüstet

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Sidepipe, denoch ist der Sound recht gesittet

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – SU H8 Sandcast Vergaserbatterie

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Türscharniere unbekannter Herkunft

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Typisch US-Rennwagen mit Mobiloil-Pegasus Sponsoringlogo

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Umbau auf eine Zahnstangenlenkung aus einem MG TD

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Umbau auf KM-Tacho

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Zu knapp, um ganz reinzupassen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Zugstrebe, Querstabilisator und langer, unterer Querlenker, dahinter die Drehstabfeder

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Zusatzinformationen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Moss-Box wie bei allen Jaguar dieser Zeit

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Auspuffseite des XK-Motors, gut sichtbar: Das Rohrwerk des Rahmens

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – 2023 im Paddock von Goodwood

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Auf drei Rädern um die Kurve in Goodwood

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Gemäss Driver konnte der Hansgen mit den C-Type Jaguar mithalten

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Hansgen Special in der Freddie March Trophy 2023

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Nach Woodcote Richtung Ziel-Schikane

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Auf dem Weg zum wichtigsten Sieg des Hansgen Special im September 1953 in Watkins Glen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Walt erklärt mit ausgestreckter Hand seinen Eigenbau im Paddock von Watkins Glen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Walt Hansgen im Cockpit nach seinem Sieg in Watkins Glen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Fahrt über die Ziellinie in Watkins Glen

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Walt Hansgen in Special 670835 verfolgt von Masten Gregory in XKC022

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Vergleich zwischen den einstigen Konkurrenten

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Auf Vergleichsfahrt in Bichester mit einem Jaguar C-Type

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Jaguar XK 120 C (1951) - Le Mans 1951 - die Sieger Walker-Whitehead

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Bau im Bodyshop der Familie Hansgen 1952

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Max Hoffman, New York ca. 1952 - der Austro-Amerikaner iniziierte den Mercedes 300 SL oder den Porsche Speedster als Importeur europäischer Autos an der Ostküste

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Jaguar E2A (1960) - im Plateau 3 (1957-1961) an der Le Mans Classic 2012

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Ford GT40 Mk II (1966) – angeboten als Lot Nr. 102 bei der RM-Sotheby's-Versteigerung in Miami am 27. und 28. Februar 2025

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Jaguar XK 120 Hansgen Special (1953) – Walt Hansgens Sohn Rusty

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Summary

If you can't buy it, build it! Walt Hansgen was an ambitious amateur racing driver from New Jersey, USA, who wanted to buy the latest sports car from Europe, the Jaguar C-Type, in 1952. But none of the 7 examples brought to the USA were intended for Hansgen, so he built his own interpretation of the fastest racing sports car of his time.

This article contains the following chapters

Walt Hansgen
If you can't buy it, build it
Own design
Thicker - but thinner-walled
Double or triple
Victory on first outing
Aborted after accident
Another victory
Co-driver William Eager
Beaten by the champion
Your own car as an opponent
Road legal and veteran
Good-natured
Appreciation and significance

Estimated reading time: 14min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In September 1953 in Watkins Glen, New York State - about 260 miles from NYC - the most important sports car race in the USA at the time takes place: One last lap to go. The 34-year-old driver and constructor Walt Hansgen set the pace for 18 laps before George Harris, in his Allard with a 7-lt Cadillac engine, sped past his XK 120 "Hansgen Special" 3.4 lt in a barely legal maneuver on the 19th lap. Perhaps it was a moment of inattention on Hansgen's part? Quite possibly, but Hansgen regained the lead on the next lap, only to lose it again on lap 21. Harris now took the corner on the inside - but Hansgen was not to be deterred. On the outside, on dirt and gravel, Hansgen's wheel kicked up a storm of gravel and the roar of his engine stopped briefly as the "Special" flew around the bend in a drift. Hansgen stepped on the gas again, skidded again but flew past Harris and crossed the finish line - as the winner!

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