BF Auction: 1954 Jaguar XK120 OTS
- Seller: Jerold A
- Location: Belleville, Illinois
- Mileage: 0 Shown
- Chassis #: 675222
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: F2570-8
- Transmission: JL21953
You know you have too many projects when you have to start storing them in the rafters of your barn! There are worse problems to have, but the seller of this 1954 Jaguar XK120 OTS has realized they need to move it along. They purchased it in 1999 in its disassembled state, and it has been hanging out in their barn ever since. Thankfully, the drivetrain and chassis are present, so it could be a great starting point! If you’d love to finish this Jaguar, it’s being offered here as a Barn Finds Auction.
While there’s rust to be fixed on the body, these cars were still a body-on-chassis design. Fixing rust isn’t always simple, but it is easier when the body can be removed from the frame. It appears that the previous owner had started the task by having the body stripped and primed. Hopefully, this means the rust issues have not progressed any further. In the past 25 years, parts supply has greatly improved for these cars, and every piece of metal needed to make this body perfect again is available.
The chassis appears to have been restored and painted with chassis paint. It appears to have held up well, although after sitting for 25+ years, things might need to be refreshed again. The seller has receipts for $8,700 restoration work from the previous owner, including having the number’s matching gearbox and cylinder head rebuilt. The bottom end is also numbers matching and is believed to have been rebuilt. There’s some surface corrosion showing on the exposed components, but if the engine was assembled properly, it should be good to go. Of course, a closer inspection would be recommended with a find like this, and the seller would be happy to answer questions or show it to bidders.
It seems like the E-Type gets all of the attention these days, but the XK120 was Jaguar’s first post-war sports car and set the stage for the E-Type. The XK120’s name was derived from its official top speed of 120 mph, although lightly modified cars reached speeds over 130. That might not sound all that impressive by today’s standards when there are family-hauling SUVs that can reach those speeds, but at the time, the XK120 was the world’s fastest production car and set all kinds of speed records. The later XK140 and XK150 were even faster and more comfortable, but they lost the raw nature of the XK120 that made it truly special.
This is a big project, but these cars can fetch serious money. Getting it there won’t be cheap, but in the end, you will have a beautiful sports car that will be a blast to drive. According to the included Jaguar Heritage Certificate, this car left the factory wearing Battleship Gray paint with a red interior and a Gunmetal top, which is definitely an eye-catching combination. The seller was able to track down two of the prior owners and has spoken with them about the car, so it has documented history going back to when it was sold new in San Diego, California. It retains its original data plate and is sold with a clean Illinois title. If you have any questions for the seller, please leave them in the comments section.
Bid On This Auction
Hank bid $10,236.00 2024-07-09 10:01:58
Bob Loganbid $7,000.00 2024-07-09 09:59:47
oliverjones bid $6,750.00 2024-07-09 09:50:21
Radstr3 bid $6,250.00 2024-07-09 09:42:54- Bob Loganbid $6,000.00 2024-07-09 09:29:50
- Radstr3 bid $5,750.00 2024-07-09 08:07:51
Crazy bid $5,500.00 2024-07-09 07:55:49- Radstr3bid $5,000.00 2024-07-09 05:20:36
Gottago bid $4,750.00 2024-07-08 15:34:48- Crazy bid $4,300.00 2024-07-04 05:08:47
- Radstr3bid $4,000.00 2024-07-03 16:47:30
- Crazy bid $3,500.00 2024-07-03 15:33:54
- oliverjones bid $3,000.00 2024-07-03 14:49:34
- Crazybid $2,500.00 2024-07-03 11:34:00
kcostas bid $2,250.00 2024-07-03 11:29:31- Crazy bid $2,000.00 2024-07-03 11:29:07
PhilLabid $100.00 2024-07-02 12:21:55
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Comments
What’s hiding under the yellow Car cover?
It is uncovered in one of the photos of the Jag windshield.
This has to be one of the nicest Mercedes 250C’s I’ve seen. Such stately elegance. Definitely belongs in someone’s collection. I’ve always loved this particular MB. I would love to see what it sells for.This Mercedes coup in it’s present condition is a true Barn Find. What a rare gem.
These were, and still are, the ultimate toy. Time, money, and a set of Whitworth tools, and you would be in for a long, and rewarding, project – don’t make it so nice that you are afraid to dirve it – there are plenty in musuems already.
There are no whitworth fasteners in this car!! UNF and UNC exclusively.
The cylinder head has not been bolted down on the rebuilt engine.
Would be an awesome project.
This reminds me of the car models kits that I built as s kid,: If I close my eyes, I can still rermember the smell that Testors cement . … in fact, I think that I’m feeling a tad DIZZY!
How soon after the auction must the car be picked up? I’m 12 hours away and would have to get my ducks in order. Thanks.
It isn’t in the way, so I can be flexible. I think within a month might be reasonable.
Is it possible to attach the main body parts to the chassis for transport? I’d be bringing a pickup with trailer but the large parts would need to be on the trailer. Just wanted to sort out the transport issue. Thanks, Bob
Bob, when I brought it home we rested the two by four structure the body is mounted on right on top of the tires on the chassis and tied it all down. That worked well.
Jerold,
Would there be help to lift and load or would you be able to have the car somewhat ready for trailer transport? Thanks, Bob
The tires are fully inflated so should roll easily for loading with a come-along if necessary, and the smaller parts are all boxed and can be lifted short distances by one person and moved about on dollies. The difficult part will be moving the body, but I suppose two people should be able to maneuver it around using wheel dollies and whatever else is necessary.
Seller, do you have a guess as to how much of the car’s parts are present and what items definitely have gone missing? Is there an indication that removed items and hardware have been labeled or tagged for easier reassembly?
I wish I lived in the US. This is a stunning project. I mean all the heavy lifting has been done. Throw your color on it and make like a kid with a Lego kit. I’m all in on this one.
Not much rust. The wiring and interior will be your biggest challenges. Is everything there? Good “part-time” project for a Jaguar restoration shop because they’ll probably know how everything fits and may have another car for reference.
When I bought it, I took the owner of a local Jaguar repair shop with me. In his opinion, most of the parts were present, although logically there are probably some needs. If I am unable to sell it, its destination is probably a restoration shop. In my opinion the XK-120 is more attractive than the E-type.
Nah, there are small companies in the UK where they make these looms to order by hand, left or right hand drive. A very simple process. Place an order and it arrives ready to install, everything clearly marked and wiring in the original colors and better quality than the original. I’ve seen both Wheeler Dealers and Car SOS use these companies.
Thank you everyone for your interest and comments.
Jerold
Am in Australia – so looking at this project, my shipping and import taxes would add up to more than the purchase price so would need it ‘cheap’.
Are the door hinges (and boot, bonnet) there/
Are the main instruments and switches there (tacho, speedo etc) ?
Car probably needs to be taken apart completely again because of time sitting.
The body would have to be lowered onto chassis (timber supports?) for shipping with everything else stored inside the car – would you be able to arrange that?
Please reply privately.
Regards
Sorry, but I could not prepare it for shipping.