1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Drophead

First appearing at the London Motor Show in 1948,design icon William Lyons was showcasing Jaguar's first sports car since the SS100 as the brand new XK120 open 2-seater. The...

First appearing at the London Motor Show in 1948,design icon William Lyons was showcasing Jaguar's first sports car since the SS100 as the brand new XK120 open 2-seater. The response was immediately recognized as a success, and production began in alloy-body form. The car was named for its incredible top speed of 120 mph, and Hollywood movie icon Clark Cable was the first in line to have the world's fastest production car of the era! The car moved to steel bodies early on with 1950 production units. A Fixed Head Coupe was offered in 1951, and a refined luxury cabriolet referred as the Drophead Coupe was finally offered in 1953 and 1954 only. The Drophead Coupe would deliver a padded Cabriolet top for added insulation with exposed boot cover when down, real burled walnut veneer dash & door caps, outside door handles, dual windshields with integrated pillars into the body work, and roll-up windows with ventable quarter glass. It made for a commandingly more elegant XK120, and only 1,471 DHC units in left-hand-drive configuration would be produced.

One option available to further enhance the XK120 would be the SE (Special Equipment) package. It would provide 54-spoke wire wheels, Lucas fog lamps, stiffer torsion bar suspension, and high-lift camshaft offering 20additional horsepower. This SE package became commonly referred to as the "M" for modified in the USA. Outside of the early aluminumXK120's, these are quite possibly the most rare of open XK-series Jaguars to have in any proper English car collection today, the Jaguar XK120 SE DHC.

We are super excited to offer this 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Drophead Coupe finished in Pacific Blue over Biscuit & Tan leather interior with matching Sand colored soft top! Features include number's matching 3,442cc Inline 6 DOHC engine offering 180horsepower connected to a 4-speed manual gearbox, and standard 3.77:1 rear axle ratio, Smiths instrumentation, windshield washers, heater/defrost, and more. Options include Special Equipment package, chromed wire wheels, wide whitewall tires, telescopic steering wheel, dual fender mounted mirrors, added seatbelts, and carpeted floor & trunk mats!

According to the British Heritage Trust Certificate, this example was ordered from the Los Angeles, CA district, but found its first registered owner out of Washington Island, WI. It is believed the car stayed garaged and kept with this original owner until it was discovered by Ragtop Motor Cars from West Palm Beach, FL in the late 1990's. It was fully restored in frame off fashion to correct specifications and later sold in July 1998 to a local Palm Beach, FL collector. It has traded hands only one time since and in February 2004, it sold again by RM Auctions in Boca Raton. That lucky buyer has had, and properly maintained, this example for the past 12 and half years! As the pictures represent, it continues to showcase incredibly well with equal driving standards ready for you driver enthusiasts! The original Smiths instrumentation all function perfectly, the engine starts & performs with gusto as does the transmission with easy shifts, and braking with proper authority. It will come with 3 sets of keys, original tool kit, tire changing equipment with matching spare tire, British Heritage Trust Certificate, owner's manual, service manual, and two parts manuals. We are available for personal inspections and welcome appointments to view in person. Thanks for looking!