Ever since I was “knee-high to a june bug,” I’ve been drawn (like a bug to a bright porch light) to the styling and overall design of cars and trucks. I guess that’s why I gravitated towards a career in graphic design where visual design, color, shapes, type fonts, etc. are all important elements in the final outcome. The iconic styling of this sleek 1952 Jaguar XK120 looks more like a handcrafted sculpture than a nuts-and-bolts machine to me. Only 12,055 XK120’s (7,606 of which were open two-seaters) were produced between 1948 and 1954, and this one is impressive on many levels. No reason is given, but after 40 years, the seller is parting with his “beloved Jaguar.” Thanks to super tipster, T.J., for spotting this cool classic and sending it our way. The Jag is currently located in Omaha, Nebraska and is for sale here on craigslist with an asking price of $97,500.
Just look at that roadster’s swooping, curvy profile. Wow. Even after 72 years, it can make a heart skip a beat, and it looks like it’s in motion even when standing still. It’s hard to find a lot of fault with this XK120. These Jaguars were available in 15 attractive colors, from British Racing Green to Old English White, but the Marketing folks didn’t get too creative with this Jag’s color as it is simply called “Black.” It looks shiny and presentable and the seller describes it as “Painted 40 years ago with Nitrocleveous Suspended Lacquer shows 8.5/10.” The black theme is continued with body-colored steel wheels and those classic Jaguar hubcaps.
Visually, the sloping rear end, wide whitewall tires, Robins convertible top, tri-bar headlights, polished stainless steel exhausts, and rear wheel spats (that’s what the Brits call fender skirts) all combine to add to the classic visual mojo of this roadster. Also included in the sale are the Jag’s side curtains, tool kit, grease gun, spare tire, and spare seat hide (that I assume is a tonneau cover).
The interior photos were taken in the seller’s garage and the lighting isn’t the best, but from what I can see, it’s in great shape. It’s hard to determine the color due to the lighting, but the interior appears to be trimmed in black leather with a matching dashboard, carpet, and door panels. It has the large factory four-spoke steering wheel and based on some online research, the instrument panel includes a 140-mph speedometer and a reverse-sweep tachometer with an integrated clock.
The XK120 was developed to show off Jaguar’s new high-performance XK engine: a double overhead cam straight-six with a displacement of 3.4 Liters, that generated 160 horsepower (which was an impressive amount back in the day). The numbers-matching polished nickel engine is beautiful and the seller says it “runs to perfection and has always been maintained by the most distinguished mechanics.” Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed floor mounted manual transmission and the Jag’s mileage is listed at 23,545 (which I assume has a one in front of it). Timing is everything, and with World War II recently over and manufacturers only able to offer warmed-over pre-war models, the car-starved public and worldwide motoring media went gaga over Jaguar’s new XK120 Roadster when it was introduced back in 1948. And you can see why. Seventy-six years after it was unveiled, the XK120 still looks stunning. And this particular one seems like it’s been pampered and treated right for decades. I admire the next owner who will be able to drive and enjoy this classic black Jag from day one.
SO very pretty. It’s a good bet that at least 95% of your readership feels as you do, Ron. It looks like its moniker-ready to raise up and run, pouncing on its next victim and at the time it was manufactured it did just that without a doubt. The Craigslist link doesn’t work so maybe a new keeper has it now, the lucky devil.
My first car was a XK150S DROPHEAD COUP. Before the military. When I got out I bought a XK140 fixed head. Than a than a V12 2+2 XKE….WHERE ARE THEY NOW. Got married and bought a house…….
Mmmm gives you a drill woody (ex ADF instructor). I would buy in a heart beat, except its in the US and left hand drive.
I’ve got a good bit of time behind the wheel of an XK120 and to this day remember vividly the thrill of winding that big 6 up down the highway. Nothing like it has been made since. Beautiful car here.
Very pretty! I’ll take their word that this is what these go for now, it would be out of my range at a quarter of that. Back in the early ’80s, somebody kept an XK under a cover in an apartment complex parking lot in my town; it looked like a non-runner, and I wonder what happened to it. One quibble: spats look excessive to me on a car that doesn’t have roll-up windows.
Spats were standard on solid-wheel cars. Open wheel wells on wire-wheel cars to accommodate the knockoffs. There was a weird-looking spat for wire-wheel cars for those who wanted that, but uuuuugly.
What? The spats make it for me.
I went looking for a (slightly more practical) 140 when a friend pointed out that, being an aesthete, I really needed a 120 -‘You wont be happy going out with the second best looking girl in school….’
15 years on and she’s still the best looking girl in school.
Always amazes me that someone would list a classic, elegant automobile such as this on Craigslist.
They probably net more $$ than giving to an auctioneer and having to pay a sellers premium.
If they auction it on BAT their commission is very affordable and doesn’t kill the deal even if it goes for 6-7 figures.
I get it, but as TomD said, I doubt a person that has this kind of money is going to see if Craigslist happens to have one.
I’d be happy if mine looked like this right now, but I guess I’m going to have to work on it first, and a lot.
I don’t think the type of used car buyers perusing Craigslist are going to have $97K burning a hole in their well worn jeans, but go for it dude.
If I had this kind of cash and was looking for a Jaguar XK 120, or any other exotic sports car for that matter, I would peruse every car magazine that I could get my hands on.
Stunning is indeed the word. Beautiful, beautiful car. I also have a soft spot for the Mark ll 3.8L
While in the AF stationed at Ramstein AB Germany during the early ’80s I made numerous trips throughout Europe, especially the UK. How ironic that the incredible and mesmerizing lure of this Jag, along with so many other British machines, was offset by, what I felt, was the sad blandness of their food. To me, the Italians certainly knew how to come up with truly savory combinations. The Germans, for the most part, couldn’t figure out either. The French tried, but in weird ways. Again, just an opinion. Gads, I wish I had an extra 100 grand !!
I’ve spent a lot of time in England, and can confidently say the best British food is continental based!
And Indian, Chinese, Polish, South African, Japanese etc. but British people go all over the world to exotic countries but still complain that there are no fish and chip shops! I am holidaying in Spain this coming June and have been advised that if you face the sea the restaurants on your left are all Spanish and those on your right are British! I’m a Brit but why would I visit Spain to eat British food. When I visit America I eat lots of Hamburgers, Hot Dogs etc. but definitely NO fish and chips!
These things are so glamorous looking it’s easy to forget that they went racing and won often. Jaguar was really on its game in the 50s.
So nice to see an old classic in its proper paint. The modern base coat/clearcoat systems give restored classics a totally different look than new. To each his own, but obsessing over the proper type of lockwasher to use on a part under the hood so everything will be as it left the factory, then painting the car with products that give it a totally different look from even a casual glance from 20 feet away seems a little incongruous to me.