6 photos

1953' Jaguar XK

£60,000

Published 6 September 2026ID: 5jVhXF

H&H
Cheshire
+44Show phone

Information from the owner

Body: Sports Car

Age: 73 years

Fuel: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Exterior color: Red

Seller's comments about 1953' Jaguar XK

Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire Viewing: Tues 22nd September 2026 from 12pm Auction: Weds 23rd September 2026 12pm Location: Kelham Hall Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX Registration No: VSU 680Chassis No: 680451MOT: Exempt Subject to a total and exhaustive restoration by Durham Restoration costing in excess of £150, 000 Tastefully uprated with a Guy Broad 5-speed gearbox, disc brakes, XK140 radiator with a Kenlowe *** and rack-and-pinion steering Said to be ‘on the button’ and ready to enjoy Offered for sale with a large history file accompanying a current Swansea V5C Launched at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show, the Jaguar XK120 Roadster caused a sensation. Penned by William Lyons, the model’s sensuous lines seemed almost impossibly glamorous to a country still feeling the effects of rationing, while the 120mph top speed that its name signified soon became the stuff of legend. Flooded with orders, Jaguar began limited hand-built production soon thereafter (although it was not until 1950 that the factory was sufficiently tooled-up to discard aluminium in favour of steel for the curvaceous bodywork). Built round a cruciform-braced box-section chassis equipped with independent torsion-bar front suspension, a leaf-sprung ‘live’ rear axle and hydraulic drum brakes, the lithe two-seater proved equally adept on road or track, winning both the RAC TT and Alpine Trial during 1950 (the former victory coming in the hands of Stirling Moss). Credited with 160bhp and 190lb ft of torque in standard tune, its widely-admired 3, 442cc DOHC straight-six engine was allied with a four-speed manual transmission. Arguably the defining sports car of its generation, a perilously shaky post-war British economy gave the Coventry manufacturer little choice but to concentrate on overseas sales and, resultingly, home-market examples are notably scarce, with just 1, 170 right-hand drive Open Top Roadsters built out of a total of 7, 606. Offered here is VSU 680, an XK120 Fixedhead Coupé chassis number 680451, presented in the particularly handsome combination of Maroon over Tan leather bucket seats. Benefiting from a total and exhaustive restoration by Durham Restoration, this example has received more than £150, 000 worth of expenditure in its return to the road, culminating in a comprehensive body-off-chassis restoration completed in February 2021. The restoration included a bare-metal respray, with the bodywork and chassis comprehensively addressed before the car was rebuilt. The result is an XK120 which combines the unmistakable appearance of Jaguar’s seminal sports car with a level of mechanical preparation intended to make it considerably more usable in modern traffic. Infact, VSU 680 has been tastefully uprated with a number of further improvements. The original braking system has been replaced with Jaguar XJ6 disc brakes, providing considerably improved stopping power, while XK140 rack-and-pinion steering along with an XK140 radiator equipped with a Kenlowe electric *** has also been installed, helping to improve cooling and driveability in modern conditions. The original four-speed transmission has been replaced by a highly desirable Guy Broad five-speed gearbox while the engine has similarly been prepared for fast-road use, incorporating uprated twin 2-inch carburettors. These modifications have been selected with usability rather than outright competition in mind, creating an XK120 which retains the character and appearance of the original car while benefiting from a number of sympathetic upgrades. The Fixedhead Coupé also possesses its own particular charm. The Tan interior provides an attractive contrast to the deep Maroon exterior. It retains all the visual drama that made the XK120 such a sensation in 1948, but in a form better suited to longer-distance touring. Now described as ‘on the button’ and ready to enjoy, VSU 680 is offered with a large history file accompanying a current Swansea V5C registration document. The combination of extensive restoration, substantial expenditure and thoughtful mechanical upgrades means that the next custodian can enjoy the XK120 experience without undertaking the considerable work associated with bringing a project car back to usable condition. A beautifully presented and extensively prepared XK120 Fixedhead Coupé, VSU 680 offers the opportunity to enjoy one of the most significant British sports cars of the twentieth century with the benefit of modern-day usability. ** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply** Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2...