1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

The XK120 on sale here was purchased from a Jaguar expert in Perth, Western Australia. A parts car, right-hand drive, with a rusty and damaged body, the current owner for whom we act is the Byrnes Motor Trust.

Their original intention was to rebuild the car as a lightweight racer and to do so they had a plan.

You see, in their possession already was an original alloy-bodied car, chassis number 5, the oldest in existence. That car was bought by trust curator James Byrnes some six years prior for a heady A$635,000 or around £350,000.

The two cars were brought together at the Trust HQ and detailed measurements of number 5 were taken and a bespoke alloy body commissioned. We understand that this cost almost £30,000.

And so, the Café Racer or street legal rally car started to emerge.

The plan was for the car to be set up to accommodate drum brakes so that it could compete in period category correct races, or fitted with XK150 disc brakes, making it more suited for fast road rallies.

Power was to come from a 300bhp engine, but this is no ordinary unit supplied with the car. A C type head no less, and with added juicy camshafts, pistons and carburettors, details we'll lay out below.

The car has been treated to an exceptional respray in British Racing Green.

Café racer seats have been made and these together with numerous other parts are included in the sale.

Had the car been completed by our seller, it is likely that it would have been marketed at around £250,000, the going rate for similar vehicles.

But of course, this exciting project does need to be finished and if you are up for the task, then read on to find out more.

Think classic British sports car, and British Racing Green is the obvious colour. Paired with a tan interior, there is surely no finer combination?

This was a money no object project, and as such the quality of the paint finish is quite exceptional. Gleaming, sparkling – we could go on with the superlatives! There is a brilliant sheen to the car only the lightest orange peel visible here or there. We understand that the paint was applied some years ago, so the fact it is still performing so well shows its initial quality.  

The bespoke alloy body, commissioned at huge expense, offers a level of fit and finish that Jaguar could only have dreamed about in the 1950s. Shut lines are quite excellent.

Two small aero screens have been fitted, which will offer slight protection from the force of air rushing towards you.

The car currently boasts wire wheels, but these and the tyres fitted were merely to allow the car to be moved around. Budget for suitable replacements.

The chrome work appears to be all in place, though we do note that some of the slats in the grille are out of shape.

Please take a look through the photos, many parts are present, but we definitely suggest that you will need to purchase some bits and pieces. 

Bespoke trimmers were used to create the tan interior trim. The dash, door cards and carpeting have been fitted and there are complementary mats included too.

Café racer seats have been fabricated, though clearly these need completing. We do note an area of damage under the driver’s seat that will likely need addressing.

There are glimpses to be had of the alloy shell and what a joy it is to behold. The standard of workmanship is quite breath-taking. The pedal box is beautifully crafted too.

Lift the boot lid and more that wonderful body is there to be seen.

The original plan was to fit head rests and a fairing reminiscent of a D-Type but largely hiding a roll cage.

Be still my beating heart! With the car is a wonderful 300bhp engine, fitted with a highly sought-after C type head which has been cleaned and machined, and boasts big valves and ports. The vendor states that the refreshed engine is partly assembled with a crank and some high-lift camshafts already fitted. He states that the pistons supplied in a box are high compression examples, but final assembly here will be required. This engine is not expected to be a shrinking violet...

Also included in the sale are rare sand cast 1 3/4in SU carburettors.

We have included extensive pictures of the car’s underside, where once again the top-notch build quality is readily apparent.

You will also be able to see chassis components, reconditioned suspension and steering systems, with of course many new parts.

We have outlined the seller’s original intentions with this car. Parts car to bespoke alloy bodied racer! Quite a journey.

We are told that over £120,000 has already been spent thus far, almost £30,000 on the engine alone.

The work carried out has been done to an exceptionally high standard.

There are boxes of parts with the car which should assist in bringing this XK120 to life.

It should be noted that the car is not registered in the UK and that will be for the new owner to arrange. We do have a certificate from the Jaguar Heritage Trust which may be of some help in this regard.

Opportunities like this do not present themselves very often. You can complete the project for a substantial discount on the current prices asked for similar cars.

And what a machine you would then have. A little racing at Goodwood perhaps, or maybe indulging in some road races like the famous Mille Miglia.

Finishing the car to suit your needs and aspirations will doubtless be a joy.

So how much will the car fetch? We think that the hammer will fall somewhere between £60,000 and £75,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’