1952 Jaguar XK120 | Buyer’s Guide

[@douglasjames4905]

Peter, you captured the essence of the 120. When I was in college I rolled my 911 in a Saturday night 'moment of driving exuberance'. I'd owned it 4 months; meanwhile my wife some 8 months had me! [that evening she not accompanying, thank the Lord]. After I'm mended, during a college field trip, on our way to destination, we walked through a north Portland neighborhood. Insurance proceeds had arrived a coupla' weeks earlier. Unable to forget that forlorn image, whispering to me...that evening I re-visited the house, knocked on the door and in due course agreed to purchase the dilapidated but driving XK120............ provided my bride consented. Next evening, fully expecting it..."you want to spend $1600 on THAT!" The spell cast upon her too. Drove it home that weekend. Best wife and coolest car on the planet meet. The spell was experience by Leno and now Peter. Fine introduction, thank you. Presently a 'modern' XK8 convertible stands as tribute to many open Jaguars since. It all began with William Lyons 1949 alloy-body XK120. The spell endures...

[@williamstreet4304]

In college, a friend had an XK120. I loved that car. It is the only one I have ever seen. They are just beautiful works of art with state of the art mechanics. I want one!

[@wiiliamgarwood2158]

My dream cars are XK 120 , XK150 and the E types . The curves and the lines are beautiful .

[@keithusace4352]

Built when cars were an extension of the person

[@williamegler8771]

Part of the trill of owning a Jaguar, whether classic or modern, is whether you are going to complete the journey or end up waiting for a tow truck.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Same with an alfa

[@bigcheese781]

Same with any Italian vehicle.

[@vika0194]

Yeah, not really... I have an F-type and XJ. None of that happens.

[@johnburnett1078]

I have a 1953 XK120. I drive it at least three times a week totally reliable. To get that reliability you need an electric fan and change to an alternator. The Engine is fantastic and that is why there are so many still on the road. All I can say is get one and be happy.

[@johnnyboy1586]

If I owed one of these,I would have japanese wiring and connections and modern cooling system, everything with the name Lucas taken out and replaced

[@michaelknapp8961]

It’s just a beautiful work of art in my opinion. I’d love to own one even though my first love are old Porsche’s.

[@fritzv46]

Thanks for your enthusiasm Peter, clearly understandable as a ‘ 54 XK 120 MC was my first car. I bought it my junior year of high school 1963 … paid $700 for it … rebuilt the entire engine using a Jaguar manual. Fond memories of driving it down Ohio country roads during autumn. You tagged everything that made it magic: quirky, romantic, slightly dangerous, and a great car for picking up women in🐶. Had it for three years then traded it up to a ‘64 XKE.

[@99unclebob]

sweet cars, back in the 60's when i was young my uncle and cousin had a few of these sitting in the shed on their farm, back then they were not sought after because of the wooden frame and unreliable mechanical history, the common over heating problem they were known for, where we live in central Canada a wood frame was thought to be bad , wood wrought here quickly especially with our weather extremes , i did get a ride on one of their XK120's down a pretty smooth dirt road and my uncle being a former race driver said hang on i am gonna put my foot into it and man did it sound glorious listening to those taps open up and he said to me a minute a later not bad for a 100 miles an hour on a dirt road eh and he had this huge childish grin on his face and so did i and soon slowed down coming to a road crossing and stopped and said don't tell anyone how fast we were just going , your mom and aunt will skin me alive and i was laughing so loud and shook my no i won't uncle Uldric , they only kept those 3 cars a few more years then sold them off to a guy who took all 3 and made 1 good car in the end, I'll never forget that day etched in my memory forever and my uncle went on to race as a hobby and do a little stunt riding motorcycles here and there just for fun and rode his last motorcycle until age of 86 and drove until his early 90's and was in brilliant health until his last year alive almost 95 yrs young, he was the adventurer that we all looked up to as kids with wide eyes when he told us stories of WW2 as a tank commander and then road as a motorcycle courier in the last 18 months of the war never getting shot but shot at and finding holes in his fuel tank from enemy fire once in awhile, thank you so much for bringing back this great emery for me 👍

[@alexphoenix6041]

I guess it is quite randomly asking but do anyone know a good website to stream new tv shows online?

[@rodneypatrick2148]

@Alex Phoenix flixportal :P

[@alexphoenix6041]

@Rodney Patrick thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I really appreciate it !

[@rodneypatrick2148]

@Alex Phoenix Happy to help xD

[@boathippy1963]

Only unreliable state side and that’s because you have to understand them and most folks don’t

[@Northbaylandscaping]

Nice to drive on a fall day after spending all summer getting running. I know from experience as a former owner.

[@Northbaylandscaping]

FFS I bought another one 1951 OTS

[@boathippy1963]

I’ve a XK 140 a mate has a c type these cars are just the best of cars big smiles per mile!

[@mobninja_]

0-60 in 10secs for a car from 1952? That's dope, man!

[@Cass-d3c]

It may be slow for 1952, but they started making these in 1948. Then, it was fast. But I have to agree with you on the ones from '52. But still, it is fast enough to get you

[@mobninja_]

@ for someone living in India. There are modern cars here being called sporty for reaching 0-60 in 11 secs and still being called fast. So, for something that’s made 50 years ago and still doing this time is incredibly fast.

[@gobear83]

My neighbour had one when I was 11 ...that was back in the sixties...it was burgundy....I loved the look of the motor ..

[@hueyhoolihan582]

he's right, it's not all about horse power.... i've got a late model porsche and an aston, but neither are as enjoyable to drive quickly out on the road as my 1953 MG TD with 54HP!!! :)

[@adrianoagliardi1450]

Auto bellissima come poche ! Ancora oggi fa girare la testa quando passa !

[@OmarDenarzi]

I really fell in love with this car

[@marial8235]

Xk120 FHC for me, please.❤

[@Dentropolis]

At 17 I bought a 1961 MGA 1600 in 1967 for $425 Canadian. I drove by a dealership in Willowdale and saw a 120. I pulled over and sat it it. Beauty. I though about it but it was too expensive at $2,000 Can. Now 140K US.

[@johnburnett1078]

1949 XK120 average run speed of 132.6 Mph 1950/1 average speed of 100mph for 24 hours 1953 172 mph average for two runs. I have an XK120 DHC 1953 it is the most amazing car - quick great noise from the exhaust and everyone loves her. Change the front brakes to discs if you want to live.

[@xprettylightsx]

Omg that car is beautiful.

[@vitale6633]

And then, there's the XK120M (Factory Modified): with aluminum hood, trunk and doors to save weight.. either way - One of the most Beautiful vehicles every produced !!!

[@docbhowe]

I drove one once that a relative owns. Interesting for sure. Quite poor brakes but fun to drive. Great thing about classic cars is that they are all different and have their own qualities. Personally I'll keep my 70 Cobra Jet Mach 1 and other muscle cars. I would like an XJC however. Seems like a proper little more modern and usable Jag.

[@douglasjames4905]

Having had XK120, 140, 150 etc and XJ12C you most assuredly can be delighted by the 1997-2006 XK8, plus the XK-R [supercharged] either coupe or the allweather-genuinely so-convertible. These are a bargain, sophisticated and comments are never-ending. To be seen on concours lawns 50 years hence; 100% useable today...every day or weekends. Love mine. An XK-R is Pure Muscle car.

[@docbhowe]

@@douglasjames4905 agreed that would be a wonderful modern Jag. For now a XJC in silver with black top would be my choice if I could find the right car.

[@_kodojak]

@@douglasjames4905 my first and current car: 2002 Green XKR bought at 9,675miles back in 2018. My daily driver currently at 26,800 miles. I agree with you on the comments, they are genuine because they grab the right kind of attention. From people who can actually appreciate it. The design is truly timeless and the heads keep turning. Literally has a personality of it’s own and I love this well-thought out car. Gets me out of tight spaces quickly and oh so elegant with grace. Great place to be in. Goodman Reed Motor dealer told me they got this from the same garage that hosted cars from Fast Furious. Wow! From SF to NYC

[@gregarnold8954]

I owned an xk140MC for years - better fit if you are over 6 feet tall. Had to sell it to cover a bad investment! But then bought a 150S to replace it! These cars are iconic. But - fyi - that’s not an original engine! Looks like a 3.8 with aluminium exhaust headers - just adds to the fun! (And torque and speed) I also own an E Type - another super iconic stock sports car from the days of “race on Sunday, drive to work on Monday” - these Jags were 1/4 the price of Ferraris yet just as much fun!

[@keithjohnson5398]

First time I ever looked up a car while watching this show, to see how much they go for & if available. Only to find mostly parts & car covers offered.

[@jimmclean2723]

For bigger drivers than 5.5 feet, the XK140 with rack and pinion and the MC with 210hp is the ticket.

[@GTArmstrong]

Where is Sam!? ...if Sam is a 8/10, this guy is a 4/10...it doesn't feel informative, it feels obnoxious - especially because he keeps on talking about himself instead of the car.

[@patf40]

4/10... Or 0,4/10? 🤣🤔

[@GTArmstrong]

@@patf40 😄

[@chrispotempa2900]

I don't know of anyone who's paying those high figures quoted unless they're hell bent on a concours car which is such a different world than for someone who regularly drives these on a weekend. In the USA, numbers matching, driving, largely rust free examples can be had for $50K+ as I write this in October 2024. Bringatrailer is a good source for current pricing. I bought my early '50 roadster from a Southern California retailer for $60K in 2021. It's my second of this model. The biggest expenses afterwards were a new wiring harness, tires and a rebuild of the radiator. I semi-regularly drive it from San Jose to Tahoe or Monterey. It's always been a non-event so far. When sorted, these are actually very reliable cars. Only the doors on the coupes and -- I think -- the drop head coupes have wood in their doors. Roadsters definitely not. I disagree with the need for an auxiliary cooling fan. The radiator can be rebuilt with an extra row of cooling tubes while maintaining the same dimensions and the water pump bypass tube blocked off. If the car is also in a good state of tune then it should never overheat on hot days. Mine doesn't -- even in Friday stop-and-go traffic over the Altamont Pass. I'll add one other point of possible weakness though that almost never gets mentioned except on the Jaglovers forum: the clutch fork should be carefully scrutinized if possible. Early model variants have a removable bottom plate on the bellhousing that makes it easy. Look for any movement where the clutch fork is secured to its shaft. The tapered pin securing same will shear over a period of time and if it lets go when there's a car in front of you in traffic then the situation goes from bad to worse. Also, it's mechanically actuated with rods and bellcranks so look for wear in those areas too. Not mentioned is that driving one of these is like driving a high performance old truck with cramped seating. The steering is heavy at slow parking lot speeds, the gearbox is robust but also very agricultural plus a little slow and stopping those big 12" drums means allowing for more following distance between you and the guy in front. Oh, but the torque and acceleration of that wonderful engine sure makes up for it all!! Finally, anyone serious about one of these should only use this video as a starting point. It would have benefited more from a long time owner intimately familiar with their quirks.

[@oldbasted]

This is what all sports cars should feel like. With looks that in my view have survived better than an Etype. And 70 years old ! They are relative bargains.

[@Retroscoop]

140 000 $ for what apparantly is a "woody"... Not bad. Maybe you also should tell us the maximum height you should have to drive one of these. I guess Alan Ladd fitted easily in them, but not sure about Jimmy Stewart.

[@dlwatib]

That car is as old as I am, and in somewhat better condition.

[@jimtermeer]

Weird hearing the Chieftain/ World of Tanks music in a Hagerty vid!

[@alexanderbryanchoa6989]

I think this was the car used in the movie Cruel Intentions....

[@Northbaylandscaping]

kit car though

[@aleoimpala]

Beautiful car.

[@carrosdiecast3650]

Amazing jaguar !

[@scootosan]

RA the drivers dream, in two places you can burry the accelerator and then burry and then use your other foot to slow down some....

[@corvanha1]

Nice cars, but awkward to sit in when you are a long person. Better take a good XK140. Better steering, more room, same or better performance and somewhat more affordable. Restoring is only for Reztoring

[@corvanha1]

Professionals

[@douglaspage1085]

Norman Dewis did 172mph in a specially prepared xk120

[@joeyd4593]

Nice video - wouldn't call it a Veyron, they were fairly reasonable vs an equivalent Ferrari etc.

[@a3-radio]

In the thumbnail he looks like he is wearing a jason mask and i was extremely confused and had to click xD

[@moonlord9879]

First jag lover

[@fearlessshadow5856]

Why in the hell isn't Tom doing these?

[@SuperLuckyCat7]

It's a Jaaaag 🎩🌟

[@uliwehner]

@Parker Kligerman are you leaving your Nascar fans behind? just kidding, those Jags do make a good case why you should get one!

[@petergilchrist5980]

have two

[@ervin7178]

Sam smith is a way better host.

[@snowyren5135]

It was not the Bugatti Veyron of the day, maybe the Pegaso z102 was.

[@johnburnett1078]

The Z102 was a cool car however the XK120 in 1953 achieved 172 average speed.

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@johnburnett1078 The Z102 was built to a MUCH higher specification with a price tag to match. The XK120 was several price tiers lower, and thus not truly "the best of the best" despite its deserved iconic status today.

[@ezequielpiacenza5331]

Excelente auto los jaguar me encantan 👏😃👌👍

[@ZeeBri]

jagwire

[@sirewokthefirstidonthaveal2902]

rip prices

[@codyC423]

I wonder why all the boomers keep complaining. The other host is a nobody, this guy is a NASCAR driver

[@jakekaywell5972]

That doesn't particularly matter, especially when this fellow is as lackluster as he is in his presentation.

[@AaBb-zj2ld]

whos out there buying these. 100k 140 k for you play time car. get real.

[@johnburnett1078]

Me for one. Worth every penny.

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@johnburnett1078 While I have neither the interest nor the money to buy one of these Coventry specials, I wish you luck and good motoring with yours.

[@ZeigtdasVideo]

Not recommended for tall guys...

[@Retroscoop]

Don't try this at home... Ah, OK... Lizzy ! Lizzy ! Can you push the Jag out of the living room again ?

[@СергійПилипенко-ц3у]

Бомбезне авто. Класне....

[@20alphabet]

You lost me at the Karen-like PSA @1:55

[@20alphabet]

@@grievuspwn4g3 👈🏼 needs safety instructions for toothpaste cap removal.

[@20alphabet]

@@grievuspwn4g3 👈🏼 fish smell from perpetual yeast infection

[@jakekaywell5972]

So basic advice that took all of three seconds to say is acting like a Karen now? Really?

[@Mattie0602]

jagwire....

[@tominator23]

Oof..

[@sbmabusaeedranashahriar7399]

🤝

[@zsoltszenku724]

király

[@Kowalamaster]

MOUATERING. MURICA.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

1st ... 😀