Imagination Needed: Jaguar XK 120 Project
On its introduction in 1948 as a showcase for Jaguar’s new XK engine at the London Motor Show, the XK 120 wowed audiences around the world. Everyone that was anyone wanted one of these beautiful new sports cars and Jaguar had its first runaway hit on its hands. A collection of Jaguar XK 120 parts is currently for sale on Hemmings for $19,500. This tip was provided by Barn Finds reader Dave G – Thanks!
This XK 120 is listed in Hemmings Parts For Sale section but it is billed as a restoration project. We are not provided with a model year for the car nor is any detail given about the title status and that might make it difficult to sell as a project. However, if you were looking for a pile of parts to move your own project along, this could be what you need.
An XK 120 is a mixture of steel and aluminum body panels on wood supports mounted to a separate steel chassis. There are a few ultra-rare and desirable all-aluminum 120s, but this is certainly not one of them. Bodywork is fairly straightforward, but if the wood supporting the panels has rotted, you’ll need to contact one of the major Jaguar parts vendors for replacements and they aren’t cheap since they are seasoned ash wood. And, yes, the panels are nailed to the wood frames.
The six-cylinder XK engine is the stuff of legends. Not only were they powerful they looked exquisite with their dual polished aluminum cam covers and triple SU carburetors. And nothing sounds like a Jaguar XK engine. There are plenty of good shops that can rebuild the 3.4 liter engine, although I’d rather take a beating than set the valve clearances on one of them. The photo of the engine parts also shows a couple of four-speed Moss gearboxes and parts in the mix as well.
The only thing identifiable as interior parts would be the plywood laid out on the cardboard. If the seats are missing it will be a pricey hunt to get them. Likewise, there is no evidence of a dashboard or the gauges that reside in one. Price-wise, anything in the XK series has been on an upward tear lately, but even with prices for restored cars rising, this one is difficult to make a case for given its asking price and condition.
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Comments
Holey Kow, best have deeeeeep pockets for this one!
You are going to need a BIG imagination and as Dave said, deeeeep pockets.
it comes complete with an XK150 grill!!
There’s not enough there to get it classified as a Heritage vehicle back in England. So it looks like a Spares pile and little enough of those even !
Stick a fork in it
Brain/eye overload! I would think in order to get enough imagination for this project, the first step would be to take a big hit of some mind-altering drug.
That’s the wrong hood, it’s off a 150, a Lot of money… maybe closer to $1,950 thank $19,500…
Its an XK 140 roadster or might be …!! Hood frame is from a DHC model and the gearbox is from a MK2 or s type….not worth the asking money but its got 2 sumps !! oh joy !! ….so if you won the lottery and give Twyfords Moors a £100,000 you could be in business
I’ll haul it all off for $300.00
This kind of reminds me of a gov’t auction, where items, including those seized in various and sundry raids by police, were sold to the highest bidder.
One of those items sold was a collector Jaguar of some sort (just now I can’t remember which model). There were no 2 parts attached to each other, not even a washer looped on a bolt. However, the auction guaranteed all parts were there. It sold for $1650. I subsequently found out the purchaser reassembled the bits and pieces and had a truly magnificent car.
In this case the seller wants $19500 for this, and there is no guarantee that all the parts are there. I think I would rather look for a gov’t auction.
19K for a pile of parts??? I don’t think so. What is going on lately with parts piles that owners think are worth a king’s ransom? Too much of American Pickers … or maybe Barrett Jackson?? Jeeeeesh.
Gullwing has a truck on it’s way as we speak to gather all the pieces and tack on a 50% mark up.
One word: RAT ROD!!
WOW. Where to start? It comes w/ a couple of good mail box posts, one that looks suspiciously like a crankshaft(?). Too rusty though. Anyway, 19,500 doesn’t leave much for a good rat rod so I think I’ll take a pass on this one. Maybe the next one.
It´s no xk 120! The seering rack is the give away! Rather a xk 140 mix n match pile of stuff, but still worth to bring back to life!
Regards from Tyrol
I get this weird idea to salvage what parts are worth saving and using them in a domestic vehicle. Sorta Frankensteinish jalopy….. eh maybe not.
Greetings All,
The bonnet isn’t a 150. There isn’t a 4″ widening strip to signify it being a 150!
If you are going to dream, you might as well dream big like the seller here.