Coys Auction - True Greats
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1

Thursday 4th December 2008

It was at the 1948 London Motor Show that Jaguar virtually threw the sports car world into turmoil with its stunning XK120. Here was a car with incredible style and looks, a powerful six cylinder engine installed in an outstanding chassis and a remarkably low price - a quarter that of a V12 Ferrari with similar performance. The combination was unbeatable and without doubt the XK120 was an absolute milestone for both Jaguar and the motor industry as a whole. XK120 orders flooded in, ironic as it was designed as an interim model to publicize the XK engine for the new Mk VII saloon. The first 57 right hand drive cars and 183 left-hand drive cars were hand-produced in lightweight aluminium alloy on an ash frame. Jaguar had only planned to produce around 200!

At the heart of the William Lyons styled roadster was that