This early home market steel bodied car, chassis 660259, was supplied new in January 1951 to David Brake who was making a name for himself in Formula 3 mixing it with the likes of Eric Brandon and Stirling Moss. By April the new 120 was pressed into service and appeared at the West Essex Car Club Speed trial at Boreham. However, tragedy struck in August that year when Brake was killed at the wheel of his Cooper Norton whilst racing at that circuit.

The virtually unused 120 was then retained by the Brake family until the eighties when sold to a prominent collector, the late Hugh Taylor with a recorded mileage of under 5000. Kept in ideal conditions this remarkable XK covered under 500 miles over the next three decades. Now showing 5,263mls it remains in wonderfully original condition but has recently benefitted from a new alloy petrol tank and radiator. Both of the originals have been retained. The hood too has been replaced by the respected Tom Hampton who observed that it was the most original XK he has ever worked on !

This outstanding XK120 combines all the important elements – superb condition, unparalleled originality and excellent provenance.