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First Left-Hand-Drive Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe Offered in France
A 1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe, the first left-hand-drive example of its kind, is for sale in France after a restoration and a 2020 engine rebuild.
By Edward Beaumont · 4 min read
A 1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe, identified by its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate as the first left-hand-drive example of the model, is being offered for sale in France by a dealer. The car was manufactured on 29 January 1953 and dispatched to Hornburg Jaguar of Los Angeles, California, in April of that year. It was imported to the UK in 1978 and later moved to France in 2008.
The XK120 is finished in British Racing Green over Suede Green leather and is equipped with a black convertible top. It is powered by a 3.4-litre inline-six engine with dual SU carburettors, electronic ignition and an uprated electric cooling fan. A four-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The car rides on 16-inch steel wheels with Jaguar-branded chrome hubcaps and Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, and it features an independent front suspension, semi-elliptical rear leaf springs and Girling hydraulic rear shock absorbers. Braking is by four-wheel drum brakes.
Following an extended period of storage, the car was restored between 1998 and 2002. The body was removed from the frame and stripped to bare metal during the build, and the front end was repainted in 2020. The selling dealer notes a colour mismatch between the front fenders and the doors, along with various paint chips around the body. Exterior details include a split windshield, Lucas headlamps, chrome bumpers with overriders and a polished exhaust outlet.
The cabin features bucket seats upholstered in Suede Green leather, which extends to the door panels, centre console and carpeting. Amenities include burl wood trim, lap belts, a heater, a passenger-side grab handle, a slide-out storage tray, door map pockets and a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror. A four-spoke steering wheel fronts Smiths instrumentation including a 140-mph speedometer, a reverse-sweep 6,000-rpm tachometer with an inset analogue clock, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 38,000 miles, approximately 4,000 of which were added under current ownership.
The 3.4-litre inline-six received a replacement cylinder head and was rebuilt by Francis Trichet of Poitiers, France, in July 2020. During that work, the pistons, piston rings, bearings, valves, valve guides, valve springs, timing components, gaskets and seals were replaced. The cylinder head and crankshaft were also machined. An electronic 123ignition distributor and an uprated electric cooling fan are installed. The engine block stamping matches the engine number noted on the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, while the cylinder head stamping reads G5178-8. The clutch was replaced in 2020.
The car is offered with a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, an owner’s manual, service records, spare parts and a French carte grise. The removed factory dynamo and the removed rear wheel spats are also said to be included. The XK120 remains one of the most significant post-war Jaguars, and this example’s status as the first left-hand-drive Drophead Coupe, combined with its documented history and recent engine work, makes it a notable entry for collectors of British sports cars.
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