Jaguar XK 120 (United Kingdom, 1948-1954)

Jaguar released a sports car model in 1948, called XK120, that was actually the British company’s first post-war sports model. The XK120’s predecessor model was the Jaguar SS100. This XK120 was the fastest production car in the world at that time. Production lasted for just about six years, as Jaguar took this model out of the market in 1954.

Jaguar introduced the XK120 roadster at the 1948 London Motor Show, where it got so acclaimed that William Lyons decided to make a production car out of this model. XJ120 copies with different body shapes would follow, summing up to a total of 12.055 cars made.   The “120” on this Jaguar model’s name stands for its 120 mi/h (193 km/h) announced top speed, which made the XK120 the fastest production car in the world at that time. Jaguar stopped producing the XK120 in 1954 in order to replace it with a new, improved model.

The Jaguar XK120’s front-mounted engine is a 3.4-liter unit with 160 hp that allows the car to perform a 0-60 mi/h acceleration in 10 seconds. As mentioned before, it was estimated at launch that the XK120 could go up to 120 mi/h. Two new engine options were added in 1951, both with a 3.4-liter displacement capacity, but one with 180 hp and the other with 210 hp.   A 4-speed manual transmission was given to this rear-wheel drive car.

Steel ash frame.   Platform
  Suspension Independent torsion-bar front suspension with double wishbones and telescopic shock absorbers; rear live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and Girling hydraulic shock absorbers.   Steering Recirculating-ball steering   Brakes Girling hydraulic drum brakes on all wheels.

The Jaguar XK120 was available in three body type options: the original 2-seat roadster, followed by a 2-seat coupe and a 2-seat drop-head coupe, which means there was two convertible versions. The convertible’s windscreen could be taken off if one wanted to place an aeroscreen instead.

Driver Leslie Johnson raced a Jaguar XK120 at the 1949 Silverstone Circuit, in England, and actually scored the victory, which was the first for a XK120. Driver Peter Walker was also at the wheels of another XK120 at the same event and finished second.   Three Jaguar XK120 cars scored all three podium places at the 1950 event of the Tourist Trophy race, which took place at Dundrod.   In 1954, an XK120-derived car named XK120 FHC took the Mount Druitt 24 Hours, which was Australia’s first 24-hour race. In the same year, another XK120 FHC would be the first imported car to win the NASCAR road race, held at the Linden Airport, New Jersey, United States, with driver Al Keller at the wheel.

The roadster version of the Jaguar XK120 was actually quite popular within the Hollywood stars: Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Lauren Bacall all owned a Jaguar XK120.