The XK120, XK for the engine, 120 for the top speed, was the first post-war Jaguar sports car and marked the start of Jaguar's iconic and beautiful design language. Designed in only three months by Jaguar’s founder William Lyons and chief engineer William Heyne, Introduced in 1949 the XK120 was not only hailed as one of the most beautiful cars the world had ever seen, but also the fastest production car in the world and the first to use Jaguar's legendary 3.4 L straight-6 XK.

In May 1955, Stockholm Jaguar distributor Fredlunds delivered this particular car to Count Sten Bielke—a passionate car collector and gentleman racing driver. The car was ordered in the specification of a black exterior paired with a tan interior and a black soft top. It featured wired wheels for better brake cooling and the sought-after 'special equipment' factory option, which added 20 horsepower, Confirmed by chassis number S 678292, where S for Special equipment.

The car was raced by both Count Bielke and a later owner– A Vincent Etzner who took the car ice racing in the winter of 1957. Subsequently the Drophead coupe changed owners a number of times, until 1971 when it ended up in the hands of its first long time owner Peter von Essen. A few years later von Essen made the decision to have the car restored to its former glory, He commissioned renowned Jaguar specialists Oldham and Crowther to do the work, as a folder of letters confirm.

In 1991, after 20 years of ownership, von Essen, in order to finance a Cadillac, sold the car to its most recent owner, Sven Jonas Lidén. The new owner, a true enthusiast, was not happy with the previous restoration and consequently decided to have the car completely re-restored. He sent the XK120 to Mill Lane Engineering for a no-expense-spared restoration that the car still greatly benefits from today having only covered 11,000 km since. The body, interior and all mechanicals were completely overhauled, no detail was overlooked. During the restoration the car was repainted and reupholstered to its current beautiful combination of a british racing green exterior, a green leather interior and a black soft top. The total cost amounted to £87,000, approximately £191,000 in today's money. Proof of the restoration in the form of invoices are all available on request. The car retains its matching numbers.

Since the Jaguars second restoration it has been kept by the same enthusiastic owner, who have used the car sparingly, but always kept it serviced and maintained. The car presents in close to the same condition as when it rolled out of Mill Lane engineering after its restoration in 1993.

This Jaguar comes well documented, with magazines having featured the car, A Photobook and invoices from the Mill lane Engineering restoration, Letters between Oldham & Crowther and von Esssen, a complete list of previous owners, Various Jaguar literature and a Jaguar classic certificate. The car can be viewed in our Uppsala showroom. A full list of the executed work, as well as history, pictures and videos can be sent in case of serious interest. Do not hesitate to get in touch.