1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE Roadster

Going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s St. Moritz auction, this glorious 1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE Roadster has already garnered a fair bit of buzz and it looks like stirring up a bidding frenzy at the event this September. This magnificent beast has a guide price of CHF170,000 – CHF190,000 which, needless to say, is quite a hefty investment but if you’ve got the money, it’s definitely one worth making for a vehicle of this magnitude. It boasts the highly desirable “SE” specification and it comes finished in silver with a red interior that gives it a classic vibe we’re loving here at Coolector HQ.

The 1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE Roadster from RM Sotheby’s has matching-numbers engine block and chassis and has an impressive racing history as it competed in the Mille Miglia Storica, Tour Auto, Targa Florio, Le Mans Classic, and Gstaad Classic. So, if you’re after a vehicle with a bit of heritage, this is definitely the lot for you. This impeccable lot comes with its MSA FIA Historical Technical Passport and JDHT Production Record Trace Certificate so you can prove its authenticity to the other motoring aficionados in your circle.

Top-Class Performance

This exceptional steed boasts a 3.4-litre, twin-cam inline-six cylinder engine that helped deliver 160 bhp and it is said that the XK 120 could allegedly reach a top speed of 120 mph, making it the fastest production car of its era. In June 1952, the XK 120 could be specified in SE configuration, which produced 180 horsepower when fitted with a C-Type cylinder head. In addition to this, it also featured wire wheels, upgraded suspension and a dual exhaust to make it one of the top-performing machines on the market.

The 1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE Roadster from RM Sotheby’s (CHF170,000 – CHF190,000) left the factory finished in Cream with a White and Red interior and Fawn hood on 12 November 1953. It was then dispatched to the noted American distributor, Max Hoffman, on 19 November 1953 and it was mated to the 3.4-litre engine was a four-speed manual gearbox. Today, it is presented in silver over red, having benefited from a restoration in years past and the current owner had this car set up for classic racing, with invoices totalling over £64,000 from CKL Developments Ltd and M&C Wilkinson so it is in very good working and decorative order.

The interior of this phenomenal looking Jaguar has been retrimmed, and now has red upholstery and red carpets. The seats are upholstered to match the interior, but are designed for contemporary racing and are equipped with safety harnesses. It boasts Smiths instrumentation and a dash-mounted rear-view mirror and the Jaguar’s engine block is numbers matching, however, the car’s original C-Type cylinder head has been replaced. With an impressive racing history and an unbelievable visual impact, this is one lot that is worth the money.

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