Woow presents this Jaguar XK120 Roadster completely restored. More than 1500 hours were necessary to obtain this car in such an evening dress. The bodywork fitted with black « spats » married to the Cartier leather upholstery particularly underlines the symbolism of the line of great purity.
Jaguar delivers production lines this specimen on May 27, 1953 to deliver it to the distributor Hoffman, in New York. The last French owner bought it in California. As soon as he arrived in France, the whole was completely dismantled to be rehabilitated to the standards of the competitions. Attention has been devoted to each nut and each screw by professionals for an amazing result.
CHASSIS
The chassis is new and has its numbers stamped (number 674 *** – on request). The latter was painted with epoxy. The wood floors attached to the chassis are new.
The running gear has been fully restored. The 4 black painted metal rims are in new condition and are fitted with Blockley tires in the spirit of the time. All silentblocs and ball joints are new. The 4 Koni shock absorbers are new. The entire brake system has been refurbished; hydraulic circuit in copper and brake pads covered in carbon-ceramic. The handbrake cable is new as well as the entire mechanical system. The trains were adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s values on a measurement bench. The body heights have been adjusted. The geometry has been completed. The springs have been faithfully redone to the original. An epoxy paint was applied to the trains, previously sanded.
BODY
The bodywork is the original (body number F609 * – on request) and has been stripped down to sheet metal and aluminum. This operation revealed that the whole remained relatively healthy. Careful sheet metal work was then carried out. At the end of the bodywork, the body was immersed in a cataphoresis bath. The entire surface of the body is then covered with a fine layer of particles, including the hollow and hidden parts as well as the sharp edges. This process is an excellent anticorrosion treatment and will give a real longevity to this XK. A primer then 4 coats of paint and 2 coats of varnish were applied. All body seals and the body mounting kit to the chassis have been replaced with new ones. The openings have been adjusted. The sheets are joined neatly and precisely. The two rear wings are made of aluminum. The spats are well adjusted on the wings.
MECHANICAL
The engine of the right type but not original (engine number 647 * -8 – on request) has been completely restored. The waterproofing has been carried out. The cylinder head has been surfaced and ground. The bronze valve seats and guides are new and intended for the use of unleaded gasoline. The engine block has been reamed. The pistons and the segmentation are new. The pastillage has been completely redone. A lightweight flywheel was installed. Outside, the whole was stripped and painted in satin black. The oil pan has been painted with epoxy. Each accessory or device has been replaced or restored. The engine was replaced on new supports. The melody is powerful and the mechanical behavior offers a significant recovery torque on all regimes.
The distribution has been redone, the chain tension has been achieved. The peripheral pulleys are made of aluminum. Fuel is supplied by an Facet electric pump. The radiator and the cooling harness have been refurbished. The fan blades are made of metal. All the black hoses are made of silicone.
The two SU-H6 carburetors with short chimneys as well as the auxiliary cold start carburetor have been refurbished and adjusted. The electronic ignition and the harness are new and adjusted to the bench. The double exhaust line is made of stainless steel from the collectors to the double outlets. An aluminum plate is installed as thermal insulation for the straight wooden floor.
Regarding the transmission, a 5-speed synchronized gearbox was installed in place of the Moss. It is today a democratized improvement and recommended by restaurateurs because of its many advantages; elimination of the cracking of the original unsynchronized gearbox, better staging of the ratios, better use of the yield and better engine recovery, reduction of the speed at a « cruising » speed, reduction of the engine wear, and a gain in comfort very appreciable regarding the noise level and fuel consumption. A relevant and essential choice in our opinion.
The clutch has also been replaced and the system is new. The drive shaft is strengthened and has been balanced.
The bridge has been restored and watertightness has been achieved.
SADDLERY
Saddlery André, specialized in the saddler-upholsterer trade for almost half a century, has done meticulous work in refurbishing the cabin.
Calf leather was chosen from a master saddler working for the largest French leather goods houses.
The seats have been stripped. All the foams were redone on the English coast.
The interior of the rear trunk was made to measure in the same calfskin. The carpet is in red hardura.
All of the leather-trimmed parts are new. The tarboard door panels are upholstered in the same black leather, with 0.5mm foam. A superb barrel cover in red Alpaca with metallic closure has been produced. The woods for the body finish beads are new. The red carpets are made to measure in 100% wool with matching leather piping.
ELECTRICITY
The wiring harness is completely new. It is cotton, according to the origin. The polished fuse box looks great. The alternator is concealed in the casing of the original dynamo in order to largely optimize the electric recharge without distorting the aesthetics of the original part. The wiper motor, pump and water vase are new.
REASSEMBLY
The instrumentation is new and has been converted to km / h. Most of the metal parts, such as the hardware, have been dichromated. The chromes that do not need to be replaced have been kept and redone in order to preserve their authenticity and to obtain the best result. The bumper supports have been restored and are the original ones. The glazing has been replaced. The set is flawless. The front wing hatch grilles are in perfect condition. The opening of the fuel door is done by a key. Black Maillefaud plates were chosen.