What could very easily have been the cover car for the sales brochure in 1950, this XK120 is everything that an XK120 was back then and should be today. Original period ’50’s colours, original non upgraded mechanical specification and totally correct steel wheels/hubcaps and spats. This car is essentially brand new in every respect and drives just the way it would have in 1950.

Referring to the huge history entry in the definitive bible on histories of XK120’s in Australia “The Jaguar XK120 in the Southern Hemisphere” by Elmgreen and McGrath, the car was completed on the 29th of November 1950 and then despatched on the 22 December 1950 to Brylaws in Melbourne. Sold new on the 6th of April to Desmond G. Alicair of Ivanhoe, Victoria and registered UK641. In November 1951 he raced the car at the Ballarat Motor Races. By 1953 the car was now registered in NSW (AJX534) and has remained in NSW ever since. The history file from here is extensive, continuous and detailed having passed through numerous owners in different parts of the state (Coonamble, Tamworth, Breezer Plains, Nemingah). In the late ’60’s 660372 was modified and raced in the State Hillclimb Championship. It’s condition deteriorated and became a restoration project.

Fast forward to 1994 when Gavin King was asked by then owner Michael Robinson, a barrister from Sydney, to travel to Wyong to view this car and two others (669089 and 660197) that he had under restoration for the purpose of reporting on the state of each car. The report was not very satisfactory for Michael and offered all 3 cars to Gavin, which he subsequently purchased with his friend and the XK Register secretary of the Jaguar Drivers Club of Australia at the time. 660372 was sold immediately to the current owner in 1994 and a total restoration was undertaken by Concours Sportscar Restoration.

The objective was always to restore the car to exactly how it rolled out of Coventry in 1950. For various reasons, the restoration took an extraordinary amount of time, being finally completed in 2017! Since then the car has been used sparingly and due to the unfortunate decline in the owners health, he has now entrusted us to find the car a new owner to be the next custodian and to enjoy the car as it was always intended.

The accompanying certification from the Jaguar Heritage Trust confirms that the car indeed left the factory on the dates quoted above and also confirms that the original colours that the car is seen in today were those that it left the factory in. Stunning and ever so ’50’s Birch Grey, the period correct two tone interior that many of the ‘120 roadsters were blessed with, this one being bicuit and red and then to top it off, fawn coloured convertible top and side curtains. The car retains its original 16 x 5in steel wheels with its correct hubcaps finished correctly in chrome with body coloured painted contrasts and of course, the correct rear wheel spats.

Due to the hard life the 660372 had endured, the restoration was extensive in terms of the amount of bodywork that was required and also procuring various components that had either gone missing or were changed during the cars racing life. Every single component is now correct for an “early” steel bodied XK120 and represents as one would describe as being in concours d’elegance condition. The only deviations from standard is the fitment of brand new radial tyres as opposed to the cross ply tyres that were fitted to XK120’s and the fitment of the later E Type diagprhram clutch assembly.

On the road the car performs exactly as an XK120 should. She starts up beautifully from cold with the assistance of the automatic choke and settles into a nice smooth 700rpm idle. Take off is smooth and the Moss box reminds you that there is no synchromesh on first gear and as speed increases, gear changes are smooth and much easier than what a ‘120 once was (thanks to the later clutch assembly) and the car tracks as straight as a die. The large 12inch drum brakes are strong and powerful, it is only if one chooses to push a ‘120 hard with a number of back to back hard braking efforts does the efficiency of the drum brakes become dubious. But thats not what this car is about. It’s all about casting your mind back to 1950 and cruising along and acknowledging the envious onlookers with a discreet “thumbs up”, as this car commands serious admiration.

The radial tyres and the altered complimenting wheel alignment settings equate to a much easier steering experience that the usual ‘120 battle. The retention of the correct 17inch Blumel steering wheel assists here as many cars have had a smaller wheel fitted, only serving to make the steering even heavier.

The sweet little 3.4 litre XK engine, in it’s earliest form, features the “studless” cam covers and the cast aluminium cooling fan and 1 3/4 SU carburettors. The engine has been fully rebuilt of course with minor upgrades limited to the valves for use of unleaded fuel. Torque is the name of the game with the Jaguar XK engine and is amply provided.

In July 2025, 660372 was one of only 50 entrants chosen to participate in the Noosa concours d’elegance where she was proudly displayed amongst Australias finest motor vehcles.

No stone was left unturned in restoring 660372 and she is fully sorted and road tested ready for immediate enjoyment.

This is your opportunity to secure a fabulous, period looking and period correct example of one of Britains most iconic sportscars – the XK120 roadster.

*Period photos of 660372 when owned by Bill Tym in the late ’50s & early ’60s courtesy of Adam Tym and John Elmgreen