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Jaguar XK120 roadster
Artcurial Motorcars at Rtromobile
Year:
1954
Auction House:
Artcurial
Chassis number:
675619
Date
February 03 2012
Engine number:
fantastique
Registration number:
Unknown
Body number:
Unknown
Sold for:
€ 119.136
1954 Jaguar XK120 roadster - no reserve Chssis n 675619 - Etat exceptionnel - Moteur fantastique - Puret de ligne
et de conception Au lendemain de la seconde Guerre Mondiale, l'amateur d'automobiles sportives n'a pas grandchose se mettre sous la dent. En France, les marques traditionnelles comme Delahaye ou Talbot s'accrochent des
modles dpasss et en Angleterre les Sunbeam et Hillman ne font pas vraiment rver. Les Allemands en sont aux
balbutiements de la Porsche 356 et c'est sans doute en Italie, avec les Maserati 1500 et Ferrari 166 Mille Milles, que
l'on trouve les voitures les plus excitantes. C'est pourquoi la prsentation en 1948, au Salon de Londres, d'un
nouveau roadster Jaguar a de quoi attirer les foules. Son nom de baptme, XK 120, traduit la volont du constructeur
de lui faire atteindre 120 mph (190 km/h), vitesse qui est alors l'apanage des voitures de course. Sa ligne sensuelle,
basse et effile tranche avec les carrosseries plus conventionnelles de l'poque et son six cylindres 3,4 litres double
arbre cames en tte s'annonce extrmement prometteur. Au dpart pourtant, William Lyons, brillant patron de Jaguar,
n'envisage pas une production importante: l'XK 120 est l surtout pour faire patienter la clientle jusqu' la prochaine
berline rapide Jaguar, la Mark VII, qui sera prsente en 1950. Mais l'histoire va en dcider autrement: en mai 1949, la
troisime XK 120 produite dpasse 210 km/h sur l'autoroute de Jabbeke, en Belgique. Cette performance
exceptionnelle incite Jaguar essayer son nouveau bolide en comptition. Au mois d'aot 1949 Silverstone, lors d'une
preuve rserve aux voitures de production, les Jaguar XK 120 s'adjugent les deux premires places. Ces succs
marquent le dbut d'une carrire fulgurante: cette brillante voiture de sport va donner naissance aux fameuses Type C
et Type D qui signeront les plus belles pages Jaguar dans l'histoire du sport automobile. Entretemps, elle va
connatre une trs belle carrire "de route", avec notamment une forte diffusion aux Etats-Unis. L'XK 120 fait en effet
partie de ces rares modles qui, ds la naissance, affichent une "justesse" qui ne ncessite gure d'amliorations. Elle
sera disponible en plusieurs versions de carrosserie, roadster, cabriolet et coup, le premier restant le plus fidle
l'esprit d'origine du modle, sportif et viril. Les XK 140, puis 150, qui suivront vont petit petit perdre cette puret. Le
roadster Jaguar XK120 que nous prsentons provient d'une grande collection franaise et se prsente dans un tat
exceptionnel. Effectivement, elle partageait le mme garage avec Bentley Continental R Fastback aluminium, Ferrari
250 GT Lusso, F40, F50, Bentley Speed Six, Delage D8 S cabriolet, Ferrari 250MM, une immense grange solognote
totalement modernise et chauffe l'anne pour permettre la conservation parfaite d'automobiles anciennes. Le
propritaire s'tait fait modernis une ancienne grange dans sa proprit Solognote, pouvant contenir environ quarante
voitures. Il avait pens tout pour le bien de ses bolides : isolation parfaite, chauffage l'anne et extracteur d'air. Le
propritaire aujourd'hui ayant prs de 80 ans, il a dcid depuis quelques annes de tourner la page automobile et ce
sublime Roadster est l'avant-dernire voiture de sa collection. Elle a bnfici d'une restauration complte dans le strict
respect de sa configuration d'origine. Malheureusement, le dossier complet de la voiture a t gar par la personne
responsable de la collection et nous n'avons plus de trace de facture ou photographies. Nous ne pouvons que
constater l'tat en lui-mme qui est simplement splendide tous les niveaux. Le moteur dmarre de manire immdiate et
dgage une sonorit envotante et impressionnante. Elle bnficie de quelques amliorations mcaniques qui en facilitent
l'usage, comme une culasse convertie au carburant sans plomb, un ventilateur lectrique permettant de ne pas
craindre d'ventuels embouteillages et une ligne d'chappement en inox qui, en plus d'viter les tracas dus la corrosion,
magnifie la sonorit dj envoutante du fabuleux six cylindres 3,4 litres. L'essai que nous avons fait nous a fait regretter
de la rendre au propritaire tant le bonheur de conduite est fabuleux. Puissant et souple, il permet de se lancer sans
arrire-pense sur de longues distances, la voiture s'intgrant sans difficults dans le trafic moderne. L'intrieur en cuir
vert, galement entirement refait est superbe et la voiture comporte deux saute-vents qui soulignent son allure
sportive. Le seul dfaut des XK120 est la position de conduite; elle devient une qualit car les deux siges ont t
remplacs par des baquets d'poque permettant aux plus grands de rouler dans le plus grand confort, sans avoir le
volant au niveau de la taille ! Que dire de plus sinon de vous l'offrir, vous ne pourrez plus la quitter ! Carte grise
franaise - Exceptional condition - Fantastic engine - Purity of style and design After the second world war, the
sportscar enthusiast had very few cars to get excited about. In France, traditional marques such as Delahaye and
Talbot stuck to rather outdated models, and in England, the Sunbeams and Hillmans hardly caused the heart to race.
The 356 was still in its infancy in Germany, and the most exciting cars were undoubtedly to be found in Italy, with the
Maserati 1500 and Ferrari 166 Mille Miglias. This is why the launch of the new Jaguar roadster, at the London Motor
Show in 1948, caused such a stir. The car was baptised the XK120, a clear sign it was capable of 120mph
(190km/h), a speed worthy of a racecar. Its sensual styling, low and sleek, was a contrast to anything else that was
around at the time, and its 3.4-litre six cylinder twin overhead cam engine was extremely promising. At the start,
however, William Lyons, the talented head of Jaguar, didn't anticipate producing the car in large numbers. The XK
120 was there to keep customers waiting for the next fast Jaguar saloon, the Mark VII, which was to be launched in
1950. History decided otherwise, and in May 1949, the third XK 120 off the production line passed 210km/h on the
Jabbeke autoroute in Belgium. This exceptional performance encouraged Jaguar to try out its new fast car in
competition. In a production car race at Silverstone in August 1949, Jaguar XK120s finished first and second. This
result marked the start of a dazzling career, with this brilliant sportscar giving rise to the famous C-Type and D-types,
cars that gave Jaguar a prominent spot in the history of motor racing. Meanwhile, the XK 120 was enjoying
enormous popularity as a road car, with notable success in the US. The XK120 is one of those rare models was right
from the word go, and didn't require any improvement. It became available in several bodies : roadster, cabriolet and
coup, the first remaining faithful to the original concept of the model - sporty and powerful. The XK140, and later the
XK150, lost a little of this purity. The Jaguar XK120 roadster on offer comes from an important French collection and
is presented in exceptional condition. It has, in fact, shared a garage with a Bentley Continental R Fastback
aluminium, Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, F40, F50, Bentley Speed Six, Delage D8 S cabriolet, Ferrari 250MM a huge barn
that has been completely modernised and is heated all year round to provide the perfect environment for preserving
old cars. The owner has totally transformed the old barn attached to his property in Solognote to hold around forty
cars. He thought of every little detail needed to care for his motor cars : security, year round heating and ventilation.
Today, approaching 80 years old, the owner has decided to end the automobile chapter of his life and this sublime
Roadster is the penultimate car in his collection. It has benefitted from a total restoration, in keeping with its original
specification. Unfortunately the comprehensive dossier on the car was mislaid by the person in charge of the
collection and there are no longer any photographs or invoices. The condition of the car speaks for itself, however,
and is splendid in every detail. The engine starts immediately and emits an enchanting sound. To make it more userfriendly, certain mechanical improvements were made, including an unleaded cylinder head conversion, an electric
fan so that there is no need to fear the inevitable traffic-jam, and a stainless steel exhaust which not only hinders
corrosion, but also magnifies the wonderful sound of the six-cylinder 3.4-litre engine. The car was such a pleasure to
drive when we took it out that we didn't want to return it to the owner.Powerful and flexible, this car permits a long
journey without a second thought, and is more than capable of dealing with modern traffic. The green leather interior,
also totally refurbished is superb and the car has two aero-screens adding to its sporty appearance. The only
problem with the standard XK120 was the driving position; it has become a strong point in this car because the seats
have been replaced with period bucket seats allowing anyone to drive it in the greatest comfort, without having the
steering wheel waist-high! What more can be said, other than if you allow yourself to get this car, you won't ever be
able to leave it! French title Estimation 60 000 - 80 000 Sold for 119,136