A new arrival at Oldtimer Australia is this exceptionally rare and highly desirable factory right hand drive 1950 Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster.

When Jaguar officially unveiled the XK120 at the Earls Court Motor Show in London on the 27th October 1948 it caused a sensation. Its breathtaking styling, advanced twin overhead cam six-cylinder engine and extraordinary performance captured the imagination of both the motoring press and the general public. Originally conceived as a limited production sports car to showcase Jaguars new XK engine, the overwhelming response took Jaguar by surprise. Demand was such that William Lyons made the decision to put the XK120 into volume production. The first 242 cars were hand built with aluminium bodywork before Jaguar transitioned to steel bodied production in 1950.

Of the first 242 cars built with an aluminium body, only 57 cars left Jaguars Foleshill works in Coventry, England in right hand drive configuration. Interestingly, 20 of those factory right hand drive cars were delivered to Australia.

This particular factory right hand drive Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster has a fascinating Australian history and is undoubtedly one of the more recognisable examples, not least because of its association with legendary Australian radio broadcaster John Lawsie Laws.

The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate (Heritage Certificate) on file confirms this car was manufactured on the 15th February 1950. The car was originally finished in Silver with a Duo- Blue interior and Gunmetal Grey soft top. It was fitted with a manual gearbox and was ordered by Brysons in Sydney, Australia. The factory records confirm the car was dispatched from Jaguars Foleshill works in Coventry on the 14th March 1950.

The cars first owner was Dr G.L. Young, a medical practitioner from Forbes in country New South Wales. Young had a fascinating background, having joined the Royal Australian Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War and subsequently ran and operated a flying doctor in western New South Wales.

Dr Young chose to take delivery of his new car ex the Jaguar works as a tourist delivery. The car was registered in the UK as JWK 376 and he travelled extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe for a few months, covering some 15,000 miles. His adventures included driving through post-war Europe, where the car attracted considerable attention. Period photographs documenting these travels are included in the cars history file.

The cars extensive history is documented in the fabulous book The Jaguar XK120 in the Southern Hemisphere by John Elmgreen & Terry McGrath, which includes a detailed account of its ownership history and a wonderful selection of period photographs.

It appears Dr Young was not totally satisfied with his XK120 and Elmgreen & McGrath wrote: . . . but from the start it suffered from very bad wheel shudder. In August 1950 the car was sent back to Australia, and on its arrival in Sydney in around September 1950 on the King Edgar, it was placed with Brylaws for sale before Dr Young had returned to Australia, he having thought that the wheel shudder would even be more intolerable on Australian country roads.

In October 1950 the car was acquired by Henry E. Thompson of Pascoe Vale South, an inner northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. It was then registered in Victoria on the 30th October 1950 as ST444. Thompson raced the car at Rob Roy in January 1951.

The car then changed hands and it was acquired by Tom Woolnough of Woolnoughs Tyre Service from Armadale (Melbourne), Victoria. He owned the car for the next two years before selling it to Bruce Long of Toorak (Melbourne), Victoria in 1953. Long retained the car for the next 28 years, though it was taken off the road in 1969. In his ownership the car was registered as JEN576.

In June 1981 the car was acquired by Terry Healy of Carlton (Melbourne), Victoria. At that time the odometer read 72,000 miles and car was finished in a light metallic blue. During his ownership the brakes were rebuilt, the car was reupholstered using factory correct materials and new white wall tyres were fitted. Healy subsequently sold the car to legendary Australian radio broadcaster John Lawsie Laws, who retained it for the next 24 years.

At some time in Laws ownership the car was returned to its original colour of silver.

During Laws ownership the Jaguar featured in an advertising campaign for Valvoline motor oil, alongside the famous slogan Know what I mean!. Period advertising material documenting this association accompanies the car. In his ownership the car was registered in NSW as XK8888.

The car was subsequently offered for sale at auction in Sydney in late 2002, although it remained unsold. In May 2004 it was acquired by Don Lane of Burradoo in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The car was registered in NSW as XK001. Lane was an enthusiastic owner who regularly used and enjoyed the car, including attending the Australian XK60 luncheon at Sutton Forest in October 2008.

In the latter part of Lanes ownership, the car remained in storage and in 2019 it was taken to Classic Jaguar specialist Gavin King of Concours Sportscar Restoration for recommissioning. The body, including the timber frame, was thoroughly inspected and deemed to be in excellent original condition and it was therefore left untouched.

This wonderful Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster was acquired by its current Brisbane based owner in December 2022. He wanted to give the car a period race look and removed the original windscreen and replaced it with two Brookland style screens. He also installed a cover over the rear view mirror and a leather strap over the bonnet. The original windscreen is still with the car and it could be reinstalled. He also removed the soft top, which is still with the car and in good condition.

The Jaguar XK120 is unquestionably one of the most beautiful sports cars ever built and its breathtaking lines continue to turn heads more than 75 years after it was first unveiled. One can only imagine the sensation it must have caused when Jaguar pulled the covers off it at the Earls Court Motor Show in London in 1948.

First impressions of this car are very good. It is immediately apparent that this is a car that has been well cared for by its current and previous owners.

In our opinion, silver is the perfect colour for an XK120. It beautifully accentuates the cars long, flowing lines and elegant curves, highlighting the timeless design that makes these early Jaguars so special. The paintwork presents very well, retaining a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finish. Although it has been quite some time since the car was repainted, the paint has stood the test of time exceptionally well. There are a few minor imperfections, as one would expect, but these do not detract from the cars overall presentation. The most noticeable are a small crack in the paint just below the front grille and a chip at the top of the pillar behind the drivers door.

Walking around the car, the panel gaps appear consistent and the overall fit and finish are very good. The rear wheel spats are a particularly attractive feature, giving the car an even sleeker and more streamlined appearance. They fit well and are in very good condition.

The headlights, front grille and other brightwork all present well and complement the cars overall appearance.

The original steel wheels also present well, with only a few minor paint blemishes and no evidence of kerb rash. They are shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, size 185HR16. Whilst the tyres still present reasonably well, they are date stamped 0502 (week 5, 2002) and given their age should be replaced. The look is completed by the chrome hubcaps featuring the Jaguar logo.

Inside, the car has a wonderful sense of originality and presents with just the right amount of patina. The seats remain in good condition and provide ample support. The leather has aged gracefully, developing plenty of character over the years, but importantly, there are no rips or cracks. The blue carpets are also in good condition and complement the interior nicely.

One of the first things you notice when looking inside the car is the large steering wheel, a characteristic feature of these early XK120s. It presents well and is in good condition. The dashboard and instruments also present very well, retaining the charm and character of the original design. During our test drive to the photo shoot location, all the instruments appeared to be in good working order.

The Jaguar XK120 was built to be driven and that is where its true character comes to life. From the moment this car arrived in our showroom, we were looking forward to getting it out on the open road and experiencing it for ourselves.

There is no complicated starting procedure to follow. It is simply a matter of turning on the ignition and pressing the starter button. Even from cold, this XK120 starts easily. The automatic choke works well and the engine quickly settles into a smooth idle. We allow the engine a little time to warm up and wait for the choke to disengage, which doesnt take long.

Out on the open road, this car is an absolute delight to drive. The Moss gearbox works well, with gear changes that are as smooth as one could reasonably expect from this type of gearbox. It is quite remarkable that this car is now 76 years old, because it certainly doesnt feel its age from behind the wheel. The engine pulls strongly, the car accelerates effortlessly, handles well and feels sure-footed on the road. Above all, it is an incredibly enjoyable car to drive and reminds you exactly why the XK120 was such a sensation when it was first introduced. As mentioned previously, the car would benefit from a new set of tyres.

The XK120 is fitted with drum brakes all round and they perform well on this car. The brake pedal has a good, reassuring feel and the car pulls up confidently and in a straight line.

Accompanying the car are its black soft top, original windscreen, two side screens, spare wheel, jack, foot pump and a partial tool kit.

The opportunity to acquire a factory right hand drive Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster is exceptionally rare, particularly one with such a fascinating and well documented history. This Australian delivered, matching numbers example has an enviable provenance, including long term ownership and an association with one of Australias most recognisable personalities, John Lawsie Laws. With so few examples built, and even fewer likely to become available, this is a very special opportunity to acquire to acquire one of the earliest, rarest and most significant Jaguar sports cars ever produced.

Highlights:

- One of just 57 factory right hand drive aluminium bodied XK120 Roadsters built.
- Australian delivered, with exceptional provenance and documented ownership history.
- Confirmed matching numbers.
- Previously owned by legendary Australian radio broadcaster John Lawsie
- Well sorted and ready to be driven and enjoyed.

Price: $399,950.


Background

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley. Initially the companys focus was on making sidecars for motorcycles. Over the next few years the company slowly transitioned into coachbuilding. In May 1927 the company announced they would start making 2 seater bodies on Austin and Morris chassis and running gear. During the winter of 1928-1929 the company relocated to Coventry and continued to shift its focus from sidecars to cars. In 1929 they produced a one off car, a sleek open boat tail two seater.

In October 1931 at the Motor Show they produced their first prototype of what was to become the SS 1. It was powered by a six-cylinder side-valve engine of 15hp. The SS 1 was superseded by the SS 2 in 1932.

In 1934 Lyons formed SS Cars Limited to effectively take over the operation from Walmsley. The SS brand was quite successful, though their cars had a reputation for having more show than go.

The first open two seater sports car was introduced in 1935, the SS90. It was powered by a 2½-litre side-valve, six-cylinder engine and only 23 were made.

1935 was also the year the Jaguar name first started appearing on the SS cars.

In 1936 the company introduced one of the greatest pre-war sports cars ever, the SS Jaguar 100 which remained in production until the start of World War II. Like so many British companies production ceased during the war to free up resources to support the war effort.

One of the first things that happened after World War II was the renaming of the company. At a general meeting held on 23rd March 1945 the shareholders agreed to change the name of the company to Jaguar Cars Limited.

In 1948, at the London Motor Show, Jaguar introduced a car which really put them on the map, the legendary Jaguar XK120. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. The first 242 cars produced were wood framed open two seaters with an aluminium body.

The name 120 referred to cars top speed. To prove the car could indeed do 120mph Jaguar organised a test on 30th May 1949 in Belgium on the empty Ostend-Jabbeke motorway. Officials from the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium timed the car. In total the car did three runs. For the first one the car was fitted with its standard windscreen, the side screens and it had the hood up. It achieved an average speed of 126.5 mph.

For the second run the car was fitted with a single aero screen a rigid tonneau and a catalogued alternative top gear ratio. It achieved an average speed of 132.6 mph.

The XK120 morphed into the XK140 and ultimately the XK150 and in total, just over 30,000 cars were built over 15 years of production.

In 1961, at the Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar introduced the E-Type, which like the XK120 all those years ago, took the motoring world by storm. The body styling was simply gorgeous and technologically the E-Type was an engineering masterpiece and it set new standards in all areas.

Whilst automotive styling is somewhat subjective, the E-Type is often ranked atop lists of the most beautiful cars and in fact it has been described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful car ever made. And its not just about the looks as the E-Type is often at the top of other lists such as the best sports car ever built or the most significant cars. It is truly a motoring icon.

As a testament to the success of the E-Type, production evolved through three series from 1961 until 1974 during which time circa 70,000 cars were built.