2012-09-09 08:08:27 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 9/9/12
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-Jaguar-XK120-OTS-SE-M-Roadster-fresh-restoration-/2 ...
Current bid $30,100 reserve not met, 2 bids 9 days left in auction.

Sellers description:
1953 Jaguar XK120 OTS SE

Less than 400 Miles since a complete restoration completed in October of last year. I set out to restore this car as a very fine driver, and like anything else in life I probably overshot that even a bit!

The Story: (if you are looking for more of the "specs" skip this section

This car has been in the family since the late 1950's. Dad was believed to be the second owner and purchased the car in 1958 in upstate NY where we lived. The car was pastel blue originally, (See picture and Heritage Certificate) then sometime in the late 1960's Dad decided to repaint the car '66 Corvette Nassau Blue. This of course was cool at the time, but would obviously devalue the car in today's market. This is the color I remember the car being, especially since I wasn't born till 1968. I have fond memories of the car, riding alongside Dad with the wind in our hair. The "old British car smell" of the interior and the rumble of the dual exhaust. We took a few overnight trips in the car when I was in my teens, one of which was to Watkins Glen, seeing one of the last Grand Prix races at the time. Life marched on, there was high school then college, and then I moved south to Florida. On one of my return visits back home to NY Dad had decided to dive into a complete frame off restoration of the 120. Since my Father had worked for GE as an electrical engineer for over 30 years, I knew this was something he had put a great deal of thought into and had already consulted with his other "Jag buddies". He dove in headfirst and made great strides in a short amount of time. This was about 1988-89 timeframe. Then a few years into the project it came to a halt. I am not 100% sure if he bit off more than he could handle financially or just want happened, but the two car garage was now consumed with a rolling chassis, body and box after box of Jaguar parts. Many of the boxes were direct from England with new parts and unopened boxes. So it sat, for over a decade like that. Dad was now involved in the local Jaguar club as an officer, and was getting asked at every event about the status of the 120. I don't really know if Dad ran out of money, time or gumption. I was busy off getting married and living in sunny Florida. I do know, he remarked on how much $$$ had spent up to that point, which if anyone has done a restoration of this magnitude, you know how expensive it is. Just to address that point, I know between myself and what my Father put into the car it's well over $100K.

Okay, now it's the late 1990's, I move from Florida to Vermont. (Great place to live btw) and long about 2004 I visit Mom and Dad back in central NY. We also, visit one of our popular subjects, "what are you going to do with the Jag?" Dad spoke of selling it as is, then hits me with the idea of me moving the project to my garage in Vermont. (??) Bottom line, Dad wanted his garage back! So, I find a friend (He owns a MG, so he's only half bad) with a truck and car hauler to set out on a weekend adventure with me. We manage to get the body onto the rolling chassis and get as many boxes we could fit and we make it safely back home to Vermont. Each time I returned to visit Mom and Dad it was a popular game to see how many boxes of Jag parts I could fit in my vehicle.

Now my garage was consumed with the project! Body on one side, chassis on the other, surrounded by boxes of Jag parts on this shelf system I built. I was also saddled with the duty of answering questions from friends and family as to "what's going on with the Jaguar?" Which I didn't have an answer for...

Things got put on hold big time when my Mother's cancer returned in 2005; she passed away in Sept of 2006. During these trying times, I noticed an obvious change in Dad too. He would be diagnosed with Alzheimer's in early 2007 and placed into an assisted living home in the middle of that same year.

I am the only child of my Mother and Fathers so life as I knew it was upside-down.

I kept coming back to the Jag and would tinker a bit on it in the evenings. I have restored a few different vehicles but this was a huge challenge. I even brought Dad into the mix when I would have him up to my place for overnights, we would go out and visit the car and he would tell me about this and that, what he had done, what he planned to do...funny thing about dementia, Dad couldn't remember what we had for lunch yesterday, but he was quick on correcting me on how I had the return spring for the clutch installed. I really wanted to try to put on a big push to finish the car properly and surprise him with it. Again-it was money, the home he was in was a small fortune (thank God for long term insurance) but the bills were still staggering. Plus, Dad's future was mostly unknown. Sadly Dad passed away in March of 2010 without getting to see the car, or getting a ride in it one last time.

Okay, so now, I want my garage back and I want to honor my Father at the same time. Enter "Best of Britain!" If you have a copy of Hemming's Sports and Exotic Car magazine from December of 2007, you will find a nice article about the shop. Mark and Tom made the hour drive over to my place to visit the project and after several hours of discussions, it was clear this was going to be a good match! I got my garage back in October of 2010 and the boys worked at a fairly rapid pace (as restorations go) to complete the project just one year later. I personally worked closely with them to help fetch parts and make the "hard decisions" that go along with every restoration of this size. It was really nice to be only an hour away from their shop, so visited often.

Restoration itself:
Mechanically, what Dad had done up to that point was top-notch. The body shop he chose back in NY I could truly strangle by the neck. We had some hurdles to overcome in that department, but luckily it's one of Best of Britain's true high points. The body on this car is amazing, paint is deep and rich, a thing of beauty and I get positive comments all the time on the body, paintwork and fit and finish of the car.

I regards to the final color, may have asked why I didn't go with the original colors of the car. Well, they weren't paying for the restoration! I have always-always loved the combination of the British Racing Green with a Biscuit interior! So, since I was paying the bills, I get to choose the color.

This is a numbers matching car minus the gearbox.

There were two things I wanted to address on the car to make it a solid driving car. Those were:

1)-I replaced the Moss gearbox with an upgraded 5-Speed from Classic Jaguar out of Texas and I am thrilled that I did! This car shifts like a dream and having a fifth gear really relaxes the car (and driver) at highway speeds. Very glad I did this upgrade.

2)-We all know the XK120 is infamous for overheating problems. Not this car! Again, I purchased from Classic Jaguar, a hand built alloy radiator. Not only is it a thing of beauty, but also the car is very happy-even in a parade! Do not fear the parade with this car. Check out the guys at Classic, good team of guys and good products. Okay, you are not going to fool any concourse judges with these two upgrades but you can drive and enjoy the car. Like I said, my target for this car was to actually drive it!

I see other people listing cars and they make long lists of every nut and bolt that was replaced. Let's say this. If it needed attention it was done professionally and done correctly. If you have specific questions about some part of the car please ask. I am not trying to hide anything I would like to think I am pretty knowledgeable about the car, even if I didn't turn the wrench.

Tires are Verdestein brand 185 HR 16 on Dayton 60 spoke chrome wire wheels

Batteries are two (2) 6V from Antique Auto Battery

Front Shocks are Gaz brand (which are adjustable!)

SU Fuel Pump and Carbs

I tried to have some attention to detail, mostly b/c that is part of my nature, but did some of the little things like getting the correct washer bottle and grease gun installed.

Here is a list (for those that like lists) of some of the suppliers we used:

· XK's Unlimited-CA

· SNG Barratt-NH

· Bill Tracy-FL

· Classic Jaguar-TX

· Universal Tire-PA

· Antique Auto Battery-OH

· White Post Restorations-VA

· Dayton Wire Wheel-OH

Interior: BAS Ltd out of Blaine WA. Was the supplier for the biscuit interior and it really came out nice. We chose to send the seats and rails out to the west coast for BAS to do them in house. It took a while, and it wasn't cheap, but the results speak for themselves. The pleats in the seats are some of the finest I have seen. All the materials of the interior I correct and true to form. Highly recommend.

The only breaking point I guess I had on the restoration, was addressing the top (hood). I didn't go the distance on the top and side curtains. I have the original top with framework and the sidecurtins, but didn't restore them along with the rest of the car. Time and money started to more than creep in. The original top, frame and side curtains WILL go with the car.

Goodies: Provided with the car will be the following: (some or most, shown in pictures)

1. Both short and long Tonneau covers
2. Beverly Hills Motoring cloth car cover
3. Original Operators Handbook
4. Original Service Manual
5. Jack and Set of original Jaguar Brand Tools, with a few King Dick brand tools in tool roll
6. Set of Snap-On Whitworth open-ended wrenches with Snap-on vintage tool roll
7. Pair of Lucas brand SL Driving lamps-not currently on car, original not reproductions
8. Book and or CD-rom of pictures documenting the history of the car
9. Jaguar Heritage Trust document in frame
10. December 2007 Sports and Exotic Car magazine
11. Jaguar Key Fob with original 1959 NY State Registration

Synopsis:
Please be aware that I am aggressively marketing the car in many forms and the car is for sale locally, so if you have real interest in purchasing the car, please contact me. I don't want any broken hearts!

Anyone attending the British Invasion in Stowe Vermont next weekend (britishinvasion) and has true interest in seeing the car please contact me. There is lots of good driving weather left this year. Heck, we are just getting into British car driving season!

2023-12-23 12:18:44 | pauls writes:

Car now listed as sold at:

www.issimi.com/vehicles/1953-jaguar-xk120

Seller's description:

1953 Jaguar XK120

Comprehensively Restored OTS with Thoughtful Usability Upgrades Including C-Type Head, Front Disc Brakes, and 5-Speed.

Final hammer price $115,000

VIN 674083

Mileage 2,272 miles

Location Redwood City, CA

Total owners N/A

Title status Clean

Body Convertible

Engine 3.4L Inline-6

Transmission 5-Speed Manual

Drivetrain Rear Wheel Drive

Exterior color British Racing Green

Interior color Tan

This particular car was supplied new to a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force stationed in Dusseldorf, Germany in July of 1953, finished in Pastel Blue with two-tone blue interior and gray soft top. When it was five years old, it was acquired by a long term owner, who kept the car approximately 55 years and used the car regularly for decades, eventually starting a sympathetic refurbishment in 2000, which then became a full on restoration in 2007. This complete restoration was completed in 2011, with a total expenditure of between 2000 and 2011 totaling $109,000. During this process, the color was changed to the iconic combination of British Racing Green with Tan interior. Disc brakes were added at the front, as well as a 5-speed transmission and aluminum radiator. The car has a stainless steel Falcon exhaust system as well, which is a sport-oriented system which is more aggressive in sound than the standard system. The parts were supplied by the usual reputable sources such as XKs Unlimited and Classic Jaguar, and the restoration itself performed by Best of Britain in Vermont. The car’s current owner is a collector who acquired it in 2013 and has used it sparingly since.

The car remains in excellent shape, with a few indications of the passage of time since the restoration was completed, but an overall presentation that is quite crisp. The paintwork was performed to high standards and applied to straight panels with excellent gaps, panel fit, and operation. There is a small dent on the left door, as well as some scratches on the rear cowl from the installation and removal of the soft top. The brightwork is in excellent shape, showing only the lightest mellowing, while the glass and lights are nearly unmarked. The interior is in similarly nice condition, with excellent leather upholstery throughout. The gauges and switches are in effectively freshly restored condition, while the carpets show some light soiling. The engine compartment and trunk were comprehensively and correctly restored and show virtually no aging since the work was completed. The car retains its matching-numbers engine, per the included Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, although the cylinder head was replaced at some point with an upgraded 8S suffix head indicating that is the famed C-Type head as fitted to the XK120 SE. The car is extensively documented, with a thick file of invoices and photos from the restoration, as well as a handful of documents and photos dating as far back as the late 1950s. Also included are a canvas tonneau cover, unrestored side curtains, and car cover.