If you have any experience with freshwater tropical fish, you will have heard of a malady known as “ick”. It’s a white scaley condition that will pretty well cover a fish’s body. It’s easily curable with some “anti-ick” drops and a warmer water temperature setting. Well, this 1954 Jaguar XK120 looks like it’s caught the automotive equivalent of ick and it’s gonna take more than a few drops to straighten it out. It’s a project in progress and the seller suggests “lots to do“, so let’s investigate. Novato, California is where this Jag calls home and it’s available, here on craigslist for $36,000. T.J. gets a tip of the hat for this find!
One of approximately 12K made between 1948 and 1954, the XK120 is known for its performance with “120” referencing its top speed in miles per hour. Unlike the original run of XK120s, this one is steel bodied and not made of aluminum. I’m not certain what happened to this drophead’s body but the seller says something about this car having been bought in the late ’80s and never having been reassembled – I guess it was purchased in pieces. Added is the statement, “Work was commenced to freshen things up to drive as is” and that likely means the mechanicals as the body is, well, still icky looking. There is a ton of cracked paint and surface rust and I imagine a bit of Bondo too. Missing is a lot of trim, bumpers, windshield, and the top though the distinctive grille looks OK. As for the windshield, the seller states, “I was going to make a plexi screen like my mock-up or the more usual Brooklands type screen“.
Inside, we’re told that the seat backs are missing and what’s there looks like a cardboard template. I’m not sure what’s going on with the seat bottoms but the driver’s side one looks like it’s auditioning for an outhouse. We are told that the wooden floorboards, here and in the trunk, have been replaced as has the dashboard’s wood trim. One ominous warning is, “Wiring is usable but wasn’t tagged when it was taken apart“. I guess it will take some excellent sleuthing skills to figure out how to reattach it.
Power under the bonnet should be courtesy of a 160 HP, 3.4 liter, in-line six-cylinder engine but the seller tells us that the non-matching number engine, currently in use, is from a Mark VII – I think that it is the same motor as powers the XK120. Anyway, it has been rebuilt and there are numerous parts that have been replaced. The seller adds, “Still missing a few pieces to get things together enough to run, but motor turns over and fires“. OK, so it’s not completely there but progress has been made – the engine certainly looks fine.
It is said that “Beauty is skin deep” and deep down, this XK120 has experienced a lot of mechanical preparation and improvement, but that body, ouch! This one is going to need a lot of time, talent, and financial treasure. The seller tells us, “I lost my storage and it’s now one too many in my garage” but it’s also easy to imagine that he’s lost the desire to continue on with what is a pretty substantial project. How about that price, $36,000, what’s your thought, priced right or not quite?
I’ve said it before regarding other similar projects:
“buy this if you want a divorce but don’t have the nerve to ask for one…”
The XK120 and the Mk VII both used the 3.4 liter, yes, along with several other Jags. But there were many configurations of that one engine – several different heads were available and carburetion varied considerably, resulting in plenty of horsepower variation.
Jag XK projects are so common. It’s easy to give up on these relatively complicated, expensive cars.
Well said Michelle. The asking price is high enough that it’s going to hinder anyone not in the restoration business or over run with money to buy. It’s rough enough that the dollar per square inch ratio is going to be very high. Still a very beautiful car and fun to drive.
this is the type of sale that requires a buyer not to think but buy quickly based on emotion..once you start thinking about spending $35k.. plus another $100k on restoration .. plus the years it will take .. not so attractive of a deal.. unless you have a shop and are ready to rock and roll!.. I have a private shop and just finished a Ferrari and a old Ford f100 and gotta say.. best to buy one done.. I just googled and found a nice one for $109,000.. done and ready to roll.. that would be the best money spent.
To quote my Dad, “Jack up the radiator cap, run a new car underneath it, then get a new radiator cap.”
Having helped try to resurrect an XK-120 with a frame that had rusted in half in the middle, I feel fully qualified to say that this will be a VERY big restoration project. One other thing thaat I remember is that every single piece of the 120 weighed nearly double what your eyes told you. We had to build a heavy duty stand just to hold the body while we worked on the frame. They are beautiful cars but I wish Sir William never met Colin Chapman. There has been NO lightness added – except to your wallet..
Colin Chapman should have MET Sir William!
Colin knew how to reduce weight! I have three old Jaguars, but one own owned a Lotus. Wow, what a nimble car, lightweight and engineered to handle! I make typos and think that maybe that’s what happened with your comment?
Bob from Wisconsin
Expensive to restore. Buy one at an auction instead. Your bank account will like you for it.
Must run in the family 1960 and up XKE’s rusted in the middle of the frame too.
What a beautiful project to give up on original restoration plans. I would love to get this body for a few grand then plop a small block Ford engine in it. Then the “100” would not apply any more, depending on the rear end ratio it would be a “150” MPH car. Then you would have to keep it as a labor of love, cuz only a professional race car driver, with a death wish, would even stick the key in to start it up!
Expensive to restore. Buy one at an auction instead. Your bank account will like you for it.
Who would believe that I put a cardboard note on an old benz in the late 80s that I wanted to buy it. He called and said he loved the car but had a jaguar in the garage he’d sell me
. Yuuuup xk120 dh. On the flat bed for 3000.$ . I had 3. Porsche s 356 by driving around in a p1800 w/ ac. Those were the days my friend