1950 JAGUAR XK120 ROADSTER

This 1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster is a fully-restored example of the marque’s first post-war sports car, presented in a superb colour scheme and boasting period competition history. It is powered by a 3.4-litre DOHC straight-six producing around 160bhp, driven through a four-speed manual transmission. The odometer indicates just 64,811 miles from new, which is believed to be correct.

The build of this car was completed in November 1950, and it was dispatched to the supplying dealer - St Helier Garages in Jersey - at the beginning of December. It was originally finished in cream paintwork with a biscuit and tan interior, and was purchased new by Robert L Sangan, who was the Honorary Secretary of the Jersey Motorcycle Club and Light Car Club.

Bob Sangan, as he was known to all at the time, raced the car competitively in the 1950s, notching up an early win at the 1951 Bouley Bay Hill Climb, placing top in the over-three-litre class. In 1952, his friend and privateer racer Frank Le Gallais campaigned the car - now registered as J10933 - in the Jersey International road race. Period photographs from both events are in the media gallery below.

It is understood that this XK120’s engine was temporarily swapped out for the Jaguar unit from the ‘Le Gallais Special’ - a custom version of the 3.4-litre straight-six. Frank Le Gallais wanted to see what his engine could do in the guise of a roadgoing XK120, and the car proved to be extremely competitive. In the first round heat, he placed fourth, while George Abecassis in the Aston Martin DB3 of David Brown was in third. In the race itself, Le Gallais finished eighth, crossing the line only a matter of seconds behind Roy Salvadori in seventh.

With the XK120’s original engine reunited with the chassis after the race, Bob Sangan continued to race and enjoy the car. He went back to Bouley Bay in 1954, this time placing third in class. It is believed that he kept the car until early 1957, whereafter it was shipped to the UK mainland and was registered in East Riding of Yorkshire. By this point, the body colour had been changed to blue.

According to the green logbook, the car changed hands several times throughout the 1970s, eventually ending up in the care of Douglas Hunt in November 1983. Over the next seven years, the intention was to fully restore the car, but as with so many projects there was just never the time to finish the project. Douglas Anderson subsequently purchased the car in 1990, finding the car in a fairly poor cosmetic state. Crucially though, it was structurally sound and still with the numbers matching across chassis, engine and body.

During his ownership, Mr Anderson commissioned an exhaustive restoration of the XK120. The bodywork was stripped to bare metal, with any damaged or corroded areas expertly repaired. New door skins were also fitted. Most of the factory metalwork was preserved, and the car still sports the original body number - F 2388 - on the bulkhead under the bonnet. The car was given a fresh coat of paint in a specialist cellulose finish. Its chassis was also restored during this period, being stripped back to the metal, repaired where necessary and fully repainted. The sills and the underside are still in terrific condition.

In 2018, the bodywork was refreshed with a bare metal re-spray in the current paint colour. It was treated to two coats of epoxy resin, primer, direct gloss and premium lacquer. The brightwork was also replaced or rechromed, with the exception of the bumpers that were in great condition. All of the body seals were renewed and the windscreen glass was replaced.

The fit and finish of the metalwork is superb, and the doors close with a reassuring solidity. The door jambs, bonnet and boot shuts are pristine as you would expect, and the car features removable wheel spats at the rear.

The resplendent interior is trimmed in the original combination of biscuit and tan, and was entrusted to The Trim Centre in Nuneaton - a specialist in early Jaguar cars and XKs in particular. Its sumptuous leather upholstery is in outstanding condition, and can be protected from the elements by a black mohair zip-up tonneau cover, which is also in superb order.

Ahead of the driver is a classic Moto-Lita four-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel. The carpets are in great shape, and there are wonderful details all around the cabin, including the lightweight leather-bound door release straps. A battery isolator switch has been fitted on the rear shelf behind the seats.

A thorough mechanical refurbishment has ensured that this car is in fine fettle. During the restoration, the engine head and sump were removed and checked over, adjusted as required and re-assembled with a new lower crankshaft pulley. The motor was then refinished and detailed, and now presents with the original bare-metal camshaft covers and factory-correct twin side-draft SU carburettors.

The gearbox was stripped down and rebuilt along with a new clutch. The pedal bearing was also renewed. Steering ball joint and lower suspension ball joint covers have been replaced, along with the rear shock absorbers. A new stainless steel exhaust system was also fitted.

Under the bonnet, the fuel lines to the carburettors were renewed, as well as the wiring loom, ignition coil and HT leads. The thermostat housing was replaced and a new distributor cap was fitted. The car has sensibly been upgraded to have a 12-volt battery, electronic ignition, and front disc brakes with a servo. A Kenlowe fan and alloy header tank have also been installed, along with an alternator and manual choke conversion.

In short, any original items in excellent order were retained, while anything that needed attention was repaired or replaced. When the car received cosmetic refurbishment in 2018, the mechanical systems were also fully inspected and overhauled to ensure they wanted for nothing. The painted steel wheels are shod in a matching set of Michelin radial tyres in size 185R16 all round, which are in excellent condition with virtually as-new tread.

Unquestionably a cherished car throughout its life, this 1950s icon is a first-class sports car. Its owner during the 1990s started the process to perfect it, and the total amount spent on this car over the last two decades far outweighs what it would cost to purchase today. It is accompanied by its original green logbook from its early life on the mainland, as well as a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, which confirms its original factory specifications.

There is an extensive history file, comprising old invoices, registration papers, MOT certificates, photographs, and a CD of files documenting the restoration. A full-size spare wheel and tool kit are also included in the sale.

This Jaguar XK120 Roadster is a numbers-matching car in outstanding restored condition. Not only does it present superbly, but it also boasts documented competition history with photographs on file that show it racing in period. The result of the restoration is a beautiful, reliable and usable 1950s sports car that is a pleasure to drive on the road.

Of course, this Jaguar is also eligible for a raft of historic events, including the prestigious Mille Miglia. Given that it was racing alongside some of the great drivers of the day back in the 1950s, the next owner would surely get a thrill from returning this stunning XK120 Roadster to the occasional competitive event once more.