1951 XK120 OTS. Roadster.

1951 Jaguar XK Roadster

1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster. Left the factory in October of '50 and first sold in January of '51. If this looks familiar, it's because it was recently listed on Bring-a-Trailer. Unfortunately, the local high bidder immediately walked -- having never even seen the car and attributing his reason as "family issues". Could that be code for getting your wife's approval first? Regardless, the archived listing is useful for more pictures and most of the comments are worth a read.
I'd summarize this virtually rust-free California car as a stalled mechanical restoration due to the loss of my workspace sublet from a party whose business shrank as a result of covid. Finding a space to replace that is near impossible locally. Time now to move on as I'm busy enough with a second plus other projects.
This car has a replacement JH-series gearbox and late XK120 engine (pictured) assumed to have been done sometime in the early 1970s. It has a valid California title, a copy of the old one, the old license plates and a Jaguar heritage certificate but as the car had been sitting for 40 plus years, the original body number tag and data plate were one of those things that went missing in the interim under previous ownership. The photo of the data plate shown is a reproduction with correct numbers.
An on/off mechanical restoration over the past six years includes a rebuild of the engine, cylinder head, radiator, distributor, carburetors, steering gearbox, most of the suspension, door hinge boxes, all of the dash gauges/ instruments, master cylinder plus most of the brakes, clutch, clutch linkage and new seals in the gearbox and rear axle. It has new leaf springs, drive shaft, water pump, positive ground SU fuel pump, upgraded hi-torque starter, fuel tank, floor boards, seat frames (old pair also included), sheet metal gearbox tunnel, front grille, front and rear bumpers, tail lamps, headlamp surrounds and is shod with Avon bias-ply tires and tubes. This list isn't all-inclusive -- there are a multitude of other new sundry parts installed as well. Ask.
In order to get the car running, an exhaust system will still need to be sourced along with batteries and plug wires, the new fuel lines and wiring harness installed, oil pressure/ temp gauge hooked up, and engine fluids added.
The car really has almost no rust to speak of or other body issues. There's a quarter-sized hole at the back of the driver's side rear fender (pictured), a dime-sized hole in a body box section under the front fender (pictured) and a thin, flaking veneer of body filler on the top rear tonneau deck (also pictured) hiding various tiny top and tonneau cover holes over the decades. No dents of note. The hood/ bonnet came to me with louvers and the rear fender wheel well insets were cut out -- something to be addressed if the new owner intends on fitting spats. Passenger and driver's side aluminum doors have stress cracks that will need to be TIG welded where the hinge brackets attach to the doors -- not unexpected on a '120 of this vintage. It comes with the convertible top frame but no top or side curtains.
I won't make shipping arrangements -- I'll leave that to the new buyer -- but I will assist however I can and also hold the car for a mutually agreed upon amount of time after the sale. Ask in advance.
Parties with low/ no feedback and/ or transaction history will need to contact me in advance or risk having your bid cancelled/ blocked.
Please contact me here at least a day, preferably two, in advance should you wish for my phone number and directions in order to see the car in person.
Payment preference is for a bank-to-bank transfer of funds.
Finally, I reserve the right to end this auction early as it is also being advertised locally.
Thanks for the interest and please ask questions if there's something I've overlooked.

• Condition: Used
• Make: Jaguar
• Model: XK
• Type: Convertible
• Trim: Roadster
• Year: 1951
• Mileage: 9999999
• VIN: W2230-8
• Color: Burgundy
• Engine size: DOHC
• Number of cylinders: 6
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Manual
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Other Color
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Vehicle Title: Clean
Want to buy? Contact seller!