David Gandy Creates Bespoke Jaguar XK120

David Gandy is one of the world’s most famed male models, so naturally looking good when out and about is a high priority. As a ‘life-long Jaguar enthusiast’ he desired a vehicle with historical charisma, but also performance strong enough to compete in motorsport. Jaguar Classic was commissioned by Gandy to create a bespoke XK120 that meets his every desire.

The project began with Jaguar Classic sourcing a suitable donor car to be restored and then modified. A 1954 example of the XK120 was found in California and then shipped back to the UK; ready for its metamorphosis to begin.

The XK120 Lightweight was the inspiration for this tailor-made vehicle as David wishes to enter the car into events such as the Jaguar Classic Challenge. It took over five months to rebuild the in-line six-cylinder engine, with steel braced core plugs and a new dual exhaust fitted to boost performance and reliability. The car’s output now sits at 225-horsepower, an increase of 45-horsepower from standard.

Other modifications to the Jaguar included a faster-shifting four-speed race gearbox that’s more durable than the original, and fully adjustable suspension. The braking system also received extensive attention with the front discs now paired with four-pot calipers, and the rear drum brakes totally refurbished.

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David Gandy influenced the overall design with his chosen black finish requiring 13 liters of paint to achieve. Twin aero screens replace the split window of this Jaguar, and a flip-top fuel cap sits in place of the original.

Aged Saddle tan leather was selected as the interior’s upholstery and custom aluminum seatbacks were created. Gandy is a tall gentleman at 6ft 2 inches, and so a battery typically located behind the driver’s seat was moved to allow for more flexible seat adjustment.

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After 11 months, 2700 hours of build time, and an undisclosed cost, David’s car was finished. He said: ‘Having driven a Jaguar XK120 at the Mille Miglia in 2013 and 2014, I knew that I wanted to own one of these incredibly special cars. The team at Jaguar Classic have done such a remarkable job engineering this car and executing everything that I asked for and it was amazing to have such an in-depth involvement in its creation.’

It’s a beautiful looking machine, and one we hope to see plenty of, with Gandy planning to use it on both road and track.