1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster. Rebuild.
Discussion
Back in 2002 my Father purchased a very unwell, very early 1950 XK120 OTS. The car was complete but in many pieces with lots and lots of spares. The initial plan was to borrow a trailer and load it on the back of a Rover 75. On the day of collection we found that the Rover towbar electrics didn't work so we used a back up plan of using Dads trusty 1968 MK2 Jag. This turned out to be a blessing as the journey home from Somerset to Southampton was a struggle even with the 3.8 litres of Jaguar grunt. The asthmatic Rover wouldn't have coped with it at all.
Here it is being collected..
And here she is arriving home.
(We have since replaced the noisy Auto Gearbox with a Maunual Overdrive set up!!)
Once back in Southampton the car was deposited into my Nan's garage where it stayed for many years.
One winters day in 2008 it was time to drag the old girl out of hibernation to pastures new.
Soon after this the strip down continued.
The car was then moved on to our local Jaguar Bodywork Specialist, Lee Ridley at Castle Classics who has transformed it as seen below.
Soon after this it was decided we should proceed to put the engine in prior to the body being placed on the chassis.
And now the fun part....
Phew!
Lee has now fitted the Bonnet, Boot and Doors to which the gaps are spot on, Something Lee is fanatical about!
The final job for Lee was to fit the Steering column, which really doesn't look like it will fit, somehow it did, without any paint tolerance errors!
Once she is home work will commence fitting her up.
I can't wait!
Here it is being collected..
And here she is arriving home.
(We have since replaced the noisy Auto Gearbox with a Maunual Overdrive set up!!)
Once back in Southampton the car was deposited into my Nan's garage where it stayed for many years.
One winters day in 2008 it was time to drag the old girl out of hibernation to pastures new.
Soon after this the strip down continued.
The car was then moved on to our local Jaguar Bodywork Specialist, Lee Ridley at Castle Classics who has transformed it as seen below.
Soon after this it was decided we should proceed to put the engine in prior to the body being placed on the chassis.
And now the fun part....
Phew!
Lee has now fitted the Bonnet, Boot and Doors to which the gaps are spot on, Something Lee is fanatical about!
The final job for Lee was to fit the Steering column, which really doesn't look like it will fit, somehow it did, without any paint tolerance errors!
Once she is home work will commence fitting her up.
I can't wait!
Edited by Le Mans Visitor on Sunday 3rd January 20:09
Edited by Le Mans Visitor on Sunday 3rd January 20:13
Thanks for all the comments, we hope to get it on the road for the spring, all being well.
She is now trimmed up and is just needing some minor fettling before she can be released on to the queens highways.
a8hex said:
I see you've changed your mind about the wheels, they look great on wire wheels, but such an early XK120 should have spats 
You may be getting confused with the other car we have undergoing a 'lengthy' rebuild, Dad's XK 120 FHC.
She is now trimmed up and is just needing some minor fettling before she can be released on to the queens highways.
ToneyCaroney said:
120 is lovely, of course. I'm equally interested in the 'Mk2'. Bumpers and year would suggest a 240/340 but only a handful were factory spec'd with a 3.8 lump. Is it one of those?
It is actually, as your correctly spotted, a 340 with a 3.8 lump fitted. Unfortunately not by the factory. Perseverant said:
Great car! Mine is a close relative, also December 1950 (660403), though mine is on wires and I'm not sure how much of it is original. The chassis is, but the engine is from a 3.4 "S" type and the gearbox is a five speed, fitted by me after the old Moss box shed some teeth. It also has no early history so far - all I know is that it was new in Bradford and was originally metallic bronze, two tone interior and biscuit hood, which must have looked pretty slick in grim austerity days. Anyhow, good luck with the car.
Any pictures of it?
Not much to report but some small things have been done with a promise of lots more in the next few days.
Headlights going in...
Following an issue in the XK 150 where, on the way back from Le Mans Classic, a 60 year old brass float sunk .It was thought a good idea to fit these to the entire fleet...
More soon.
Headlights going in...
Following an issue in the XK 150 where, on the way back from Le Mans Classic, a 60 year old brass float sunk .It was thought a good idea to fit these to the entire fleet...
More soon.
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