Jaguar XK120 1952

The 1952 Jaguar XK120 is among the early postwar models with which Jaguar made its international breakthrough. Introduced in 1948 as a successor to the prewar SS models, the Jaguar XK120 was initially intended as a show model for the new XK six-cylinder engine. Due to great interest, the model was put into production. The designation “120” referred at the time to the stated top speed of 120 miles per hour, which in its introductory years placed the Jaguar XK120 among the fastest production cars’in the world.

The Jaguar XK120 was built between 1948 and 1954 and was available as an open two-seater (OTS), fixed coupé (FHC) and later as a drophead coupé (DHC). The first examples were produced with an aluminum body on a wooden frame, then switched to steel to meet demand. A total of about 12,000 examples of the Jaguar XK120 were produced, making the model an important foundation of Jaguar's international growth in the 1950s.

Technically, the Jaguar XK120 was known for its modern construction for the time, with independent front suspension and a powerful six-in-line engine with dual overhead camshafts. This engine, in its further developed form, would be used in various Jaguar models for decades to come. The combination of performance and relatively advanced technology ensured that the Jaguar XK120 was used not only on public roads, but also in rally’s and long-distance races.

The design of the Jaguar XK120 is characterized by flowing fenders, an elongated hood and a low-set grille, elements that became defining features of Jaguar's sports car image in the 1950s. The model played a role in further positioning the brand as a producer of sporty and technically advanced cars’s. To get a good idea of the lot, we advise you to come to the viewing day.