For more than a century auto companies, cars styles, and cars themselves have alternately appeared, then disappeared from view . Yet, among the thousands of cars that have been designed and built over the course of those years, few have achieved the dual success both on the road and on the racetrack as the 1951 jag XK120.

The demanding, prestigious LeMans Race was won by XK120 cars in 1951 and 1953.

Brief Jaguar history

  1. Based in Blackpool, England, company expands to car bodies
  2. 1945, named changed to Jaguar
  3. 2008, peak of cars sold
  4. 1922, Swallow Sidecar Co. launches to build motorcycle sidecars

The XK120 was capable of reaching speeds of 140 mph thanks to its 160 hp 3.4 liter Inline 6-cylinder engine. Other features of this popular automobile, which included a roadster version, included “bullet” headlights, split windshields, and a cramped cockpit.

Shooting for practicality, Jaguar added a Fixed Head Coupe feature to the XK120 in 1951 to protect the passenger cabin from the elements. There seems to be some merit to the thought that the 1951 Jag XK120 provided the inspiration for the first Corvette.

The cost of an XK120, which now regularly are auctioned off in the $100,000 range, was only $3,805 upon their release. Ferrari, another attractive sports car at the time, cost three times more than the XK120 and was out of financial reach for many potential buyers.

Possibly in the same class of styling and performance in the early 50’s with the Jag XK120 were the Farrari and Cadillac-powered Allard.

Even if you cannot bring home a jag to provide joy for your husband or wife, you can provide him or her with a comparable precision die-cast replica which, for only a few dollars, is a 1:24 reproduction of the original with many of the same features, only on a much smaller scale. The details of the Jag XK120 come to life in a 7.5” die-cast replica that includes detailed interior, opening doors, and, beneath the opening hood, a clear view of the car’s 3.4 liter Inline 6-cylinder engine.