1952 Jaguar XK120 OTS, JCNA Champion Class Winner

1952 Jaguar XK120 OTS, JCNA Champion Class Winner,100% Correct Restoration, No Reserve Auction

Offered for sale is a JCNA Concours winning, frame-off restored, numbers matching 1952 Jaguar XK120, Open Two-Seater (OTS), finished in red leather with red Wilton wool carpets. Only 6,436 left-hand-drive (LHD) XK120 OTS models were produced. The XK120 being offered was produced in May of 1952, one month prior to the SE model being issued.However, the car was later updated to SE specifications per Jaguar Factory Service Bulletins. This car is unique in the fact that it still has the early-style distributor cap with wires running out of the side to the back of the cylinder head, uses metal ignition connectors instead of plastic, uses the early-style Aluminum fan blade, does not have demisters or windscreen washers, follows the paint specifications from the Foleshill Jaguar factory paint shop (engine compartment, underside of Bonnet, Bonnet latch components, etc. are painted flat-Black. Wire wheels, front and back bumper brackets, etc. are painted body color. The car comes with an original Radiomobile model RM 4202 radio, labeled EMITRON JAGUAR CUSTOM (for display only), for use in North and South America, and many other export markets. The car also comes with tonneau cover, pair of correct restored side curtains and storage pouch, Jaguar XK120 tool pouch containing a full set of correct tools (including extremely rare set of original 'short' BRITISH MADE open-ended spanners, several rare literature pieces, original Jaguar Service Manual, Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook, correct tire pump and tools for the Boot (trunk). The car also features a set of five painted wire wheels including five rare Dunlop RS5 bias-ply black wall 'show' tires, a set of five Dunlop chrome wire wheels including five Vredstein black wall radial tires, a JAGUAR show plate under the front bumper, a correct front license plate bracket, a pair of Lucas model SFT700S fog lamps (with correct box-style lens, correctly installed wiring harness and chrome push-pull switch), a pair of extremely rare Lucas Leman's sealed beam headlamps (all XK120s delivered by the factory to USA had sealed beam headlights installed by US dealers by law.) In the rear, the car includes a correct accessory chrome luggage rack compete with picnic basket, and an original extremely rare HORNBURG (west coast Jaguar distributor) license plate bracket. Also comes with an extremely rare Smiths Cigar Lighter Tag. Some pictures show a custom-made club badge holder on the front RH bumper. One picture shows the car with chrome wire wheels with black wall radial tires.NOTICE:The owner wishes to keep the custom-built club badge holder with two badges, as it was a gift from his best friend (it is not included with the car, nor is the original Brown paper envelop with the guarantee and service warrantee, etc., shown in Appraisal Report pictures).

NOTE 1:This car is featured in the Jaguar XK120 JCNA Concours d'Elegance Judging Guide (Third Printing) for official use by all JCNA judges at USA, Canada and Mexico JCNA Concourse judging events.

NOTE 2:this car was appraised by Auto Appraisal Network on 3/3/2020. Auto Appraisal Network determined a Replacement Value for this vehicle, as of the date specified, was:$280,500.00. SEE APPRAISAL PICTURE ABOVE for contact info. ON-SITE INSPECTION IS WELCOME.

Provenance

The car includes an official Jaguar Heritage Certificate, with the following information:

Make and modelJaguar XK120

Body Style Open two-seater (OTS), left-hand drive

Date of manufacture 20 May 1952

Chassis Number 672233

Engine number W 5003-8

Body number F 4216

Gearbox number JL 10859

Transmission Manual (4-speed)

Exterior paint colourCream

Interior trim colourRed

Hood (soft-top) colour Fawn

Original distributorCharles H. Hornburg, los Angeles, California

Original dealer Not recorded

Date of dispatch 30 May 1952

First owner Homer E Smith (address not recorded)

Registration mark Not recorded

Remarks-

Source: Jaguar Heritage Certificate issued 15 December 2011, By Anders Ditlev Clausage, Chief Archivist

Ownership History

The first owner of the Jaguar XK120 OTS, chassis no.672233, was: Homer E Smith (address not recorded), date of purchase May, 1952, price unknown.

The second owner was: C. H. Hale, Seattle, WA. (Date of purchase and purchase price is unknown).

The third owner's name was: Harold Brenholtz, Ada, OK, date of purchase 25 September 1969 (Purchase price is unknown) NOTICE: the Oklahoma Certificate of Title indicated the Model as 'XK120 Re-built'. It is likely that the car was involved in some type of minor front-end collision and was at some-point in a junk yard, which resulted in a 'Re-Built' status on the Oklahoma Title.

The fourth owner's name is unknown. Date of purchase was sometime after 1967 (Place and purchase price is unknown).

The fifth owner's name was: Kurt Tanner, an Austin-Healy car restorer in Claremont, CA, now located in Santa Ana. (Date of purchase and purchase price are unknown). Either Kurt Tanner or the previous owner completely disassembled the car by removing the body, engine and all other parts, including the chassis and suspension. Pictures are available.

The sixth and current owner's name is Robert 'Bob' Sheridan, La Verne, CA. The XK120 was purchased from Austin Healy restorer, Kurt Tanner in December 2011 in totally disassembled condition. Bob Sheridan registered the car not realizing the implication of its Oklahoma 'Re-built Title'. Unfortunately, the California DMV assigned a 'Salvage Title' on the Pink Slip, however, the chassis and body are in perfect, straight condition with no evidence of any prior damage. Why the car was issued a 'Re-built Title' in Oklahoma remains a mystery.

Restoration Timeline

During the 6-year restoration period between 2012 and 2018, all chrome pieces were sent out for re-chroming to show car quality, hundreds of new and used parts were sourced and purchased as needed, the Jaguar XK120 engine, cylinder head, dual-carburetors and dual brake master cylinder professionally rebuilt. Concurrently,Bob reassembled the chassis components (suspension, brake parts, wheels, brake lines, fuel lines, shocks, steering components, fuel tank, then he and his son Jason reattached the body to the chassis. Bob estimates that he expended at least 20-hours per week (part-time) for a minimum of 20-weeks during the year, equaling 265-hours per year, for a 3-year total of approximately 795-hours of labor. (Conservative estimate)

During restoration, in 2015 the car was hauled up to Ojai, CA for some repairs, bodywork and painting, etc.Total hours expended during the year for metalwork, welding, bodywork, painting, mechanical work, etc. by 3-people totaled approximately 685-hours of labor.

During restoration, in 2016 the car came back from bodywork and painting, etc. and Bob installed a new wiring harness then began reassembling the car. (Labor is included the 795-hours of labor above)

Also, during 2016, Bob was asked by Jack Humphrey, then President of the Jaguar Clubs of North America (JCNA) to research and write a new Jaguar XK120 JCNA Concours d'Elegance Judging Guide. After being vetted and endorsed by the JCNA Concours Rules Committee and Chief Judge Dick Cavicke, Bob prepared a XK120 Judging Guide outline then recruited a team of twelve JCNA XK120 experts, including co-author and well known XK120 expert Roger Payne, located in Sydney, Australia. The purpose of the Jaguar XK120 JCNA Concours d'Elegance Judging Guide is to provide JCNA Judges and XK120 owners with a definitive authenticity and reference guide for describing and picturing XK120 parts as they were supplied by the Jaguar factory. The 175-page Jaguar XK120 JCNA Concours d'Elegance Judging Guide has been subjected to extensive peer review and represents the best information available. The Jaguar XK120 JCNA Concours d'Elegance Judging Guide (2020 Third Printing)features many pictures of Bob's 1952 XK120 OTS, (the same car being offered for sale in this auction) Chassis No. 672233.Bob also co-authored the 322-pageJaguar XK120 Authenticity Reference Guide (All Models)book with Roger Payne, which also featuresmany pictures ofBob's 1952 XK120 OTS, Chassis No. 672233 in the 2020 Third Printing.

Restoration was completed in early 2018. At his first JCNA Concours in Golden, CO, Bob received a score of 99.86 in Champion Class and was awarded 'Best in Show'. The car was hauled in an open trailer over 1,000 miles to the event. On the way, the car was rained and snowed on and received several minor deductions for water spots on the engine, etc. that Bob missed during pre-show detailing. Had it been towed in an enclosed trailer it would have very likely have received a 100.00 point score. Bob attended three JCNA Concours events in 2018 and placed third in the overall JCNA National rankings for XK 120 Champion Class judging, with a final average score of 99.10. This car is perfect for the person who wants to attend JCNA Concours events and go after the National Grand Champion award with a 100.00 point car.

Since its restoration, the car has been fastidiously maintained and cared for. The paint finish and brightwork are excellent, the body is straight, with consistent panel fits and gaps, the rubber and glass are all new. Although the original Dunlop RS5 16-inch bias-ply black wall 'show' tires have plenty of remaining tread, they are not roadworthy. The interior is impeccable. The leather seats are virtually flawless, as are the Wilton wool carpets and interior panels. The dash and instrument panel are beautiful and all the gauges, electrical components, switches, knobs, lights and horn are functional. The car's undercarriage is entirely rust-free, solid and correct.NOTICE:The car was meticulously restored using the Jaguar XK120 JCNA Judging Guide pictures and judging guidelines for correctness. It is, in the XK120 Judging Guide author's opinion, a 100% correct example of a 1952 Jaguar XK120 OTS as delivered from the Jaguar factory.

The original numbers matching engine starts up immediately upon pushing the ignition button, idles correctly and pulls strongly and smoothly through each of the transmission gears. The car drives and brakes straight and the suspension is tight. The new speedometer shows less than 50 miles on the car since its restoration. It has been driven for very short distances, mainly to keep the brake rubber from going bad and to exercise the engine and mechanicals. Since restoration, the car has not been driven on any highway or freeway.

NOTE 3:The owner hopes that the car will go into a private collection or car museum. At 68 years old the car still looks as good as the day it left the factory. The car is too pristine to drive on the road except for special occasions.

NOTE 4:One picture shows a heel pad missing correct horizontalstitching. The photo was taken at the upholstery shop. The upholsterer later added the missingstitch, which can be seen in the photo showing the Smith's Cigar Lighter tag. The incorrect heel pad photo shows a view of the Radio.