Woods Find: 1950s Jaguar XK120
The Jaguar XK120 was a British 2-seat roadster built between 1948 and 1954. It was Jaguar’s first sports car since SS 100 production ended in 1939. A highly desirable automobile today, the XK120 was quite successful in racing and rallying events. What’s left here in Evansville, Indiana is one of an unknown model year and no mention is made if the drivetrain is still present. Sitting out in the woods, excavating the car may be a problem, according to the seller. It’s available here on HiBid where the current bid is $525. Thanks, Jamie P, for the tip!
At first, the XK120 was a “test car” at the 1948 London Motor Show to gauge what the demand might be for an automobile like this. The public’s reaction was enthusiastic, and the Jaguar went into production right away. Over six model years, more than 12,000 copies of the XK120 were built, with the very first example being purchased by actor Clark Gable. It was powered by a 3.4-liter XK inline-6 engine.
No information is provided by the seller about this car other than to call it a “Jagar” and to say you must bring your own help and tools to remove it from its current location out in the sticks. Lot 43B, as it is tagged, is in rough shape and what we can’t see is probably in worse shape than what we can. No title will be provided so a bill of sale will have to suffice. Auction prices for these cars can sometimes be absurd with many going for well into six figures. But this one doesn’t look as though it could be a parts car at best or perhaps lawn art. What would you do with it?
Auctions Ending Soon
2006 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 SCBid Now9 hours$15,000
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now3 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now3 days$3,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now3 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now5 days$10,500
Comments
It’s got a great looking windshield.
Was that a wise ‘crack’?
Both comments left me shattered.
Re-run?
Yep. It didn’t sell then and it won’t sell now.
Very bizarre with that steering wheel painted red. Grill gone, no mention of engine, etc. I think hood ( bonnet) is aluminum ( they are on XK150s) , so parts are worth current bid. Frame is steel and would be shocking if not toast. This is a parts pile at best.
glwta
I’d like to see what’s left when they try to move it….sad
That could be a gearstick in the 3rd photo along; ahead of the centre padding and offset to the passenger’s side. If you can get it for 500-odd, it’s probably worth it. Dash looks to be fully occupied, too.
Getting it out’ll be fun; flatbed wagon with a hiab seems like the best way to me.
Tetanus shots for everyone! My treat!
This is more of a gardening job.
i thought april 1 had passed…
George finally retrieves his Jaguar at the airport parking lot after finding his lost ticket from 60 some years ago.
I’d get the body dipped and down to bare metal. Then put it on a more modern drivetrain and race it.
Breaks my heart!
Interesting. The banner ad I’m currently seeing at the top of this post is a car gadget to magically remove scratches and scuffs from your paint.
I’m going to get me that. And use it on this Jag. Then flip it for 8 or 10 grand.
I’m I a genius or what?
It looks like you could buff it to look like new
In Massachusetts where I live, they charge sales tax on the NADA average retail which is $76,800 assuming it is a 1953. So I would need to pay $4,992 in sales tax for this beauty unless I pay more than $76,800 and then I would pay more. I have fought this several times and they make no consideration for the actual sales price or condition unless it is from a dealer sale.
Paul….Register your older cars in CT. We have a maximum assessed value of $500 for cars over 25 years old. For a town with a 30-mil tax rate, that’s 15 bucks a year.
Its the salestax they screw you on, not the excise tax.
I bought one in similar shape about 5 years ago – 54 roadster with the factory SE package. Unfortunately it sat in a garage with a collapsed roof for 25 years. (it was my uncle’s car and I’d been trying to get it since age 8, when it was still salvageable). \
It stayed intact until we started moving it around the shop, at which point it promptly broke in half. This one looks about the same, with maybe a few more parts on it. I’d could definitely use a few pieces for mine LOL.
If someone can get this “what is left of an XK-120” for a very reasonable price (say a thousand dollars), it might be worth making a very long-term project of it…if the buyer has metal fabrication skills and access to welding tools. An XK-120 is not a sports car to look down upon. In nice shape it is a very valuable piece of motoring history. In 1948 the XK-120 was the fastest production car in the world. They are all worth saving.
As a XK140 owner, I can see some very valuable parts on this XK120! The windshield chrome surround is worth a lot as is the bonnet/hood. The rear end is valuable as well as is the steering wheel and center dash panel. One must remember this not a Ford/Chevy. Unrealistically perhaps, there are people who will pay exhorborant prices for the parts!
Like Peter Brady said to big brother Greg……” I hope the rust doesn’t come off. It’s the only thing holding the car together.” Lol.