1950 XK120 Roadster. Frank Rubino (South Florida Jaguar Club) Click for more pictures : Previous - Next

Only five... Throughout Jaguar 75 year history, only five models of sports car have graced the company's showrooms and prowled roads around the world. That's not many and shows that Jaguar usually gets it right the first time with models that remain in production for long periods of time, needing only minor updates along the way... The Jaguar XK sports car is number two in this exclusive lineage and while its successor, the E-type, may be better known and more recognizable, the XK120 was as much a revolution when it was launched in 1948 offering performance and value no other manufacturer could match.

Immediately following World War Two, most of the offerings were still based on pre war designs; reconstruction and rationing in Britain meant that it took a few years for new designs to arrive on the market. Rationing was such that to get raw materials, especially steel, manufacturers had to export the bulk of their production, helping bringing in currencies in to the country.

William Lyons, Jaguar's founder, was keen to continue developing the company he had established some 20 years earlier and he quickly realized that it meant building his own engines instead of relying on an outside manufacturer like SS Jaguar had done until this point. With Bill Heynes leading a small team of engineers, including Wally Hassan and Harry Weslake, planning and development for Jaguar's new powerplant begun even before hostilities ended. Over some 3 or 4 years, a number of experimental engines were designed and tested starting with 4 cylinder models, code named X for experimental and followed by a sequence letter: XA, XB, etc... Each gaining a little more power toward the ultimate goal of 160 hp established by Lyons. In 1948, the current evolution was the XJ engine, a 4 cylinder, 2 liter, dual overhead cam, which developed a little under 150 hp. Interestingly, it was tested on the same stretch of highway in Jabbeke Belgium where a few months later, the XK120 would rewrite the record books for production cars. Installed in a special streamlined lightweight MG, the 4 cylinder engine pushed the purpose built car to a top speed of 175 mph but when installed and driven in a Mark V, Lyons felt it lacked the low end torque needed for the new Jaguar saloon. Back to the drawing board for a 6 cylinder, 3.4 liter version, named XK: Jaguar had the engine it needed to leap over its competition.

A rare 1949 XK120 alloy body roadster. Tony Hldebrand (South Florida Jaguar Club)

While the engine was ready, the chassis and body of the new saloon were not and with only two months before the 1948 London Motor Show, Lyons decided to launch his revolutionary engine in a limited production sports car. Using a shortened Mark V chassis, a roadster design was drawn and quickly built to be presented on the Jaguar display at Earls Court. Named XK120 Super Sport, after the engine and its estimated top speed, the new Jaguar took the motoring world by storm with its advanced dual overhead cam engine, elegant lines and promised performance. Full instrumentation and Connoly leather interior completed the package and yet, just like many SS Jaguars in the pre war years, the XK120 was offered at a price that was almost too good to be true: £ 998. There were very few cars capable of topping at 120mph in 1948 and they were much more expensive; about 4 times more for a Bugatti 57SC or twice as much for the 3 liter Alfa Romeo. With a price of just below £ 1000, Jaguar was also taking advantage of British tax laws which taxed cars priced under £1000 at a much lower rate than those sold for over that amount. Note that for a while, an even more economical XK100 version was planned, using the previous generation 2 liter 4 cylinder development XJ engine, but dismissed at the last minute.

Following the success of the initial launch, a group of engineers was sent to Jabbeke where the stock XK120 reached an incredible speed of 126mph, becoming the fastest production car in the world. With the windshield replaced by a small windscreen, using a tonneau cover and under body tray, the XK120 topped a jaw dropping 132mph. The group of journalists who was taken along to Belgium duly noted the performance...

Original plans called for only 200 cars to be built but with orders coming in, it became clear that the labor intensive aluminum body construction would have to be replaced by a steel body with pressed panels. Tooling up took over a year with only a small number of alloy body cars making it into the showrooms and into the hands of some very lucky owners. By May of 1950, the production of steel body XK120 began with a large percentage being exported, mostly to the United States where the 120 became the choice car of stars and serious drivers. Altogether, a little over 200 aluminum bodied roadsters were built and needless to say, they are now the most valuable and sought after of all XK120s.

1954 XK120M DHC. Roger Seitz (South Florida Jaguar Club) Click for more pictures of this car: Previous - Next

Demand for the XK120 was also boosted by its success on race tracks in production sports car races prompting Jaguar to send 3 mostly production XK120 to Le Mans in the spring of 1950 to see how the cars would fare against the more established competition. While luck was not on the side of the team, Jaguar learned some valuable lessons leading to the development of the XK120C, ultimately known as the C-Type which clinched Jaguar's first victory at Le Mans in 1951. On the rally scene, Ian and Pat Appleyard (Lyon's daughter) replaced their trusty and winning SS100 with an XK120 and dominated many of the early 50s events including the difficult and prestigious Alpine Rally. But as if a 24 hours race was not enough, Jaguar tested the 120 at Monthlery, a race track outside Paris, for a full 7 days during which the car averaged just over 100mph.

In 1951, after production of the steel bodies was well established, Jaguar introduced a Fixed Head Coupe which featured rolling up windows instead of the side screens as well as rear quarter light windows. Its profile was reminiscent of the SS100 FHC prototype, designed just before the war but which never made it into production. Minor changes to the rear section of the car were needed to accommodate the steel roof along with modifications to the front wings and to the doors. Two years later, in 1953, a Drop Head Coupe was introduced featuring the more luxurious interior appointments of the FHC (walnut veneered dash and trim, winding windows) with a heavier, better sealing and more convenient top incorporating a more complicated frame, padding and headliner.

For those demanding even more performance, the 120 was available in an XK120SE version (XK120M in the US) with high lift cams engine producing 180hp (.375" lift versus the .312" lift of the standard cams), lightened flywheel, stiffer torsion bars & rear springs, dual (heavenly sounding) exhaust system. Wire wheel were fitted on the SE/M models with the rear wheel spats removed to provide clearance for the spinner. Later on, a C-type head with larger 2" SU carburetors could also be ordered, raising horsepower to 210hp.

In 1954, Jaguar introduced the XK140 (as a 1955 model) which despite looking almost identical to the XK120, incorporated a number of changes. On the outside, larger and more protective bumpers were the most prominent change, along with minor modification to the grille now cast in one piece. In the engine bay, the engine was moved forward by about 3" allowing the passenger compartment to be slightly larger giving more leg room and a better driving position. Steering became rack and pinion instead of the recirculating ball steering box and the lever arm dampers were replaced by telescopic dampers. The standard engine was still the 3.4 These changes were applied to the OTS, DHC and FHC which also gained a small rear seat thanks to the battery being relocated inside the front wings behind the wheels. Overdrive was offered as an option and i 1956 a three speed automatic transmission became availablel. As with the XK120, the XK140SE (or XK140MC in the US) offered upgraded performance with a C-type head (210hp), wire wheels, foglights, twin tailpipe exhaust.

By 1957, almost 10 years after the initial launch of the XK120, Jaguar unveiled the XK150 which was significantly different from its predecessors. The lines of the car were straightened out and the windshield was now a curved single piece. Mechanically, the most important change was the introduction of disk brakes which Jaguar had pioneered at Le Mans since 1954. The engine remained the same 3.4 liter unit developing 190hp in base trim and 220hp in SE trim with twin SUs. Originally available as a FHC and DHC only, a roadster model was offered a year later in 1958.

With the XK150, Jaguar introduced an S model with triple SU carburetors producing 250hp. By 1958 an even more powerful version was offered with an optional 3.8 liter engine bringing the horsepower to 265 in S trim. This would be the same engine and triple SU configuration which would be used in the E-type in 1961..

The XK150 would remain in production until 1961, although very few were build in this final year with the E-type being introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March. During the 13 years it remained in production, a total of just over 30000 XKs left Coventry including about 12000 XK120s, 9000 XK140s and 9000 XK150s. Most of the production was exported, with the United States being the largest market.

But the legacy of the XK extends far beyond the production numbers: it put Jaguar on the map as a serious sports car manufacturer. The car's brilliant performance on European, and most importantly on American race tracks, lied the foundation for Jaguar racing heritage which culminated with the development of the C-type and D-type and their incredible five victories at Le Mans in only 7 years. "Race on Sunday, sell on Monday" was pioneered by Jaguar with the cars carrying a badge on the boot listing the years of Jaguar's Le Mans victories...

Buying an XK...

The XK is without a doubt the true classic Jaguar sports car because of its early roots and also because it was the first Jaguar powered by the legendary XK engine. After the XK150, it would go on powering the E-type and ultimately the XJ saloon until 1986: an astonishing 38 years career... Despite what it represents, buying an XK isn't as out of reach as one may think although prices vary greatly depending on model and body style.

The rarest and most valuable model, is without a doubt the early XK120 aluminum bodied roadster with only 200 or so built. Also near the top of the value guides, are the XK150S in part because of their superior performance but also because of the low production numbers;some top Concours restorations can exceed $100 000.... Coupes, like with most Jaguar sports cars, are the most affordable and represent an excellent value for the money starting as low as $25000 for a decent XK120 or 140 driver. Roadsters will typically start at around $35000 for a driver, with Concours restoration reaching up to twice as much. Drop Head Coupes, despite being more expensive to restore than the roadsters while still offering open air motoring are normally closer to the coupe's value... M/SE models usually fetch around $ 5000 over the cost of the base 120 and 140 models along with 3.8 liter engines in XK150.

XK140M FHC (Russell Glace, South Florida Jaguar Club)

Rust is definitely the main concern when considering an XK, although the traditional body on frame construction means the condition of the body is less critical than on a monocoque model like the E-type where many body panels are structural. Nevertheless, the body is a complicated structure which can be expensive to repair.

Mechanically, despite its performance the XK is fairly simple and the engine is as bullet proof as they get. The Moss box is equally strong and just like the engine benefits from having been in production for so many years. With so many of these cars still on the road (or Concours fields), parts are still easy to get with a number of specialized suppliers right here in the US.

As with any classic Jaguar, it is really critical to have the car inspected by someone familiar with them before making a decision. A specialist will know where to look for and will also be able to quickly evaluate the condition of the engine.

Matching numbers and low mileage are nice but the overall condition is really what will influence its price the most. Originality is important as well; even if you don't plan on entering the car in Concours competition, a future owner may want to; while some items can easily be reverted to original, others may not. For instance, a non Jaguar paint color will affect the car's value because of the high deductions it will receive at a Concours and the high cost to repaint the car.

Driving an XK...

There is something very classic about an XK being driven on the road. It has those post war lines, long fenders and bonnet but despite its character, it is also a very capable performer with plenty of power and good handling. In case of the XK150, or earlier upgraded cars, the disc brakes bring in extra safety and help make the XK an excellent road car. Many XK owners drive their cars on a regular basis, on club outings, rallies and even cross country tours; unlike most lesser cars built in the post war era, the XK can hold its own on the road with modern cars...

The XK120 is obviously the original and as such it is often seen as the purest of the XKs which comes at a slight price with less room than the 140 or 150 and a slightly less comfortable position. The extra 3" gained by moving the engine forward on the XK140 make a big difference in driver comfort. Roadsters have these pure lines but when driven in less than perfect weather, the protection and comfort of the FHC or DHC is a big big plus although the coupes will be hot in summertime...

What they all share is the same glorious roar when the XK engine is fired up, filling your ears with a very special exhaust note while on the road. Follow an XK on the road for a few miles and you will understand! Acceleration is brisk, but gear changes may take a while getting used to. The 4 speed Moss box (used all the way until the first few years of the E-type) isn't exactly as easy to shift as a modern box with its non synchro'ed fist gear. However, its low speed whine adds a certain charm to the car.

The cooling system can sometimes be a source of headaches but can easily be sorted out. For serious driving, alloy radiator upgrades and electric fans can be installed to make the XK a very reliable car. Another possible upgrade is to convert the car to a modern 5 speed T5 gear box which will make it much more practical to drive and significantly lower RPM during highway cruising.

The pleasure of driving a classic XK120! Russell Glace (South Florida Jaguar Club) Below: XK120 at the Glen, by RogerSeitz (South Florida Jaguar Club)