1952 Jaguar Xk120 Roadster: Beautiful, All Numbers Matching, Mechanically Strong on 2040-cars

Offered for sale is a gorgeous, rust-free, well sorted, all numbers matching 1952 Jaguar XK120 Open Two Seater (OTS), finished in stunning Carmine Red over black leather with a black canvas soft top. Just out of the William Young collection in Seattle following nearly 30 years of ownership, the car has been fully gone through mechanically and is ready to enjoy, whether as a hobbyist’s weekend driver or as a Jaguar Club of North America (JCNA) event participant. Originally sold to a Southern California buyer through distributor Charles Hornburg in Los Angeles, by the mid 1980s the car had found its way to the Pacific Northwest, which is where Mr. Young found the car. Impressed with its honesty, lack of rust and complete originality (with numbers matching chassis, body, engine block, head and gearbox), he decided it was the perfect candidate for a thorough restoration and commissioned the work with some of the areas best tradesmen. 

William Young has been a significant collector for the last 40 years and while his collection has included cars as notable as multiple Jaguar SS examples, the ex-Constance Bennett 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Town Car by Brewster (now valued at $3M+) and a bevy of other significant pre and post-war Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, Jaguars were always his true passion and we were fortunate enough to have acquired three of his XK120 Roadsters and his Mark V Drophead Coupe. A JCNA regional president for many years, Mr. Young always purchased only the most solid examples and kept them exceptionally well maintained, as evidenced by this car’s beautiful condition. 

Following completion of restoration, Mr. Young used the car frequently over the ensuing quarter decade as a weekend cruiser and JCNA event and tour participant. Accordingly, the Carmine Red finish is not without its blemishes, but as the pictures exhibit, they are negligible in terms of taking away from the car’s substantial overall appeal. The body is entirely straight, without any evidence of accident repairs, the brightwork shows only the patina of a well-loved and cared for classic and the chrome knock-off wire wheels are wrapped in brand new wide white wall tires. 

The black leather interior is in equally clean condition, the seats showing only the most negligible amount of wear and the carpets and interior paneling clean and correct. The canvas soft top is in excellent condition and the car has never been subjected to the elements, evidenced by the untainted, rust-free, completely original undercarriage. This is an entirely pure, correct and honest car, one that needs only a new owner’s garage and the same gentle use and care that it received under Mr. Young’s stewardship. 

Mechanically the car is fantastic, its factory 3.4L engine firing up effortlessly, idling consistently and pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the original Moss gearbox’s gears. Performance accompanies with excellent, even compression, fantastic ride quality and no proclivity for overheating. The car brakes straight and true, the suspension is sound and it is a joy from behind the wheel, whether tooling through town, roaring through the canyons or bombing down the highway. 

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an appreciating XK120 OTS that ticks all of the important boxes: completely original, solid and correct undercarriage, strong and sound mechanicals, beautiful and charmingly patinated cosmetics, excellent provenance and ALL matching numbers, confirmed by both the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Certificate (which we have) and the car’s original stamps and data plate. We considered consigning the entire collection to the Gooding and Co. auction at Amelia Island, FL this spring, but opted to sell the cars (or the entire collection) privately at what would be a significant discount compared to what examples routinely bring when crossing the auction block. Please bid accordingly.

We want this car to go to great home and would be happy to further discuss it and answer any questions, so please feel free to email us or call us at 805-202-4557. You can also visit us online at GoodmanReed. 

Goodman Reed Motorcars 

We’ve always had an appreciation for classic European cars and over the years have created an eclectic personal collection. We only buy cars that we’d personally be interested in owning and generally only sell them to make room for other acquisitions. That time has come for this Jaguar (if the price is right, of course – this isn’t a fire sale). We try to give accurate descriptions of the cars we’re selling, but we’re enthusiasts, not experts, and we encourage and are happy to help facilitate personal or professional inspections. But please do so before bidding, as the alternative harms our ability to make sales to other interested parties who have done their proper due diligence before bidding. 

For U.S. buyers a 10% non-refundable deposit is required within 3 days of the auction’s end, the balance to be paid within 7 days of the auction’s end. Foreign buyers must pay in full within 7 business days of the auction’s end. Buyer is responsible for shipping, however we’d be more that happy to help with recommendations and arrangements. The car is listed locally and we reserve the right to end the auction at any time should it sell prior to auction’s end. Thanks for your interest.