Jaguar XK 120 OTS SE (1953)
XK 120 Roadster with coveted "Special Equipment" - Matching Numbers & Colors
€
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Description
The year was 1948 - Earls Court Motor Show in London - the first major motor show after the Second World War. The new Jaguar with the type designation XK 120 was presented here for the first time. A two-seater sports car with a completely new engine - 2 overhead camshafts, almost 3.5 liters of displacement and 160 hp. The "new one" shone with driving performance previously only known from racing cars!
The audience was thrilled - also by the breathtakingly beautiful bodywork with its flowing lines - and despite all the sportiness, comfort was not neglected either. All this was available at a sensationally low price of 1,263 pounds. In Germany, an XK 120 Roadster cost around DM 18,000 at the time - in comparison, an Aston Martin DB2 with a 2.6 liter engine and 125 hp cost around DM 31,000 - a Ferrari 212 with 150 hp cost around DM 44,000...
The name abbreviation XK "120" was chosen for 120 miles top speed - i.e. just under 200 km/h. This made the new Jaguar sports car the fastest production car in the world when it was launched in 1949!
During its production period from 1949 to 1954, around 7,300 units were manufactured in 3 body variants. Initially exclusively as a roadster OTS (Open Two Seater), from 1952 also as a coupe with a soldered roof FHC (Fixed Head Coupe), and from 1953 also as a convertible DHC (Drop Head Coupe), with a comfortable, lined folding top, crank windows on the sides, integrated windshield frame and a more luxurious dashboard in burl wood. The "SE" (Special Equipment) option was available for all three variants. This consisted of special wire wheels, an increase in engine output to 180 hp thanks to different camshafts, a lighter flywheel and special vibration dampers, twin-tube exhaust, reinforced stabilizers, stiffer rear springs and two Lucas fog lights.
The XK 120 OTS SE Roadster that we are offering you here was built on March 6, 1953 according to the Heritage Trust Certificate and delivered to the USA/New York on March 11, 1953 to Hoffman, the importer at the time. The first owner was a Mr. George Martin from Detroit, who registered the XK for the first time on June 20, 1953. It is worth mentioning that the original warranty card from back then, as well as the title, operating instructions, invoice and various literature are still available!
Certainly due to the fact that the only 2 owners in the USA were very conscientious "Jag-owners".
Mr. Martin kept the XK in his possession until 1972. In that year, the Jag passed into the ownership of "Uncle Joe" (born 1924), also based in Michigan. He kept the roadster until 2013 - selling it to his nephew here in Austria (which is why we affectionately call him "Uncle Joe").
In 2013, after a partial restoration in 2004 in the USA, during which the paint was repainted in the original "Pastel Blue" color, the interior and soft top were renewed and the engine was sealed, the XK was reworked again to get the roadster through the strict Austrian TÜV.
As it is in life - interests shift, and so we were able to find a new home for this special XK 120 Roadster. The Jag is still in good condition, the underbody has recently been cleaned with dry ice and resealed. It runs, steers, brakes, clutches as it should and has an engine sound that is addictive.
Our conclusion:
No concours condition, no "trailer queen", but an honest car at a fair price with an impressive history!
Only 2 owners from 1953-2013 in the USA
2013 to date 1 owner (the nephew of the 2nd owner) in Austria
Matching Numbers & Colors / rare SE equipment
Austrian historic registration.
Price
89'900.- EUR (negotiable)
Price in your currency: approx. CHF 86'304 (Rate: 0.96)
€
Seller
Robert Schatteiner
Am Schwarzenberg 3
5323 Ebenau
Austria
