Jaguar XK120 - World Of Classic Cars -

Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupé 1954

The Earls Court Motor Show, London, October 1948, saw the introduction of the aluminium bodied XK120 Open Two Seater (OTS) as a replacement to the SS100 that ceased production in 1940.  In this post war austerity period, this dramatic, sporting and luxurious Jaguar was a sensation and it immediately found success.  Incredibly, the classic shape came about quite unintentionally.  William Heynes, Jaguar's Chief Engineer, oversaw the development of the XK six-cylinder engine that was developed with the intention of it powering a new high performance saloon.  The XK120 body was put together to clothe the test bed for the new engine and so it progressed from there.  The first cars were built using the traditional pre war method of aluminium coachwork over an ash frame; it was not until April 1950 that a steel bodied (but surprisingly lighter) XK120 was produced.  Once the new OTS had become established, the fixed head coupé (FHC) and drop head coupé (DHC) models were put into production.
March 1951 saw the first DHC; these coupés were fitted with a double lined hood, quarter lights and, unlike the roadster, with wind up windows. The DHC feels very snug and comfortable once the hood is up which makes it ideal for relaxed high speed touring in even the most severe weather conditions.  Air vents in the front wings were introduced in 1951 to ventilate the footwells as additional comfort for the driver and passenger.  Production of the XK120 only came to an end in 1954 with the introduction of the XK140.