Jaguar’s stunning XK 120 was a massively important car for the marque, and for postwar Britain. As the fastest car in the world upon its introduction, and arguably the most beautiful, the XK 120 put Jaguar firmly back on the map. After the model’s debut at the 1948 Earl’s Court Motor Show, one journalist commented, “All perceived notions as to what was a series-production sports car disappeared overnight.” It showed that Jaguar’s best days were still to come, as well as those of the entire British car industry. Between 1949 and 1954, 12,055 examples were constructed, and less than a quarter of those were bodied as the desirable fixed head coupes. Both Matchbox and Dinky Toys made scale toys of this iconic car in period, many youngsters in the UK and the United States were to fixate on these cars as one of their shared favorites.

The XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe entered production in 1951 as the second of three XK 120 models, and it boasted the highest level of practicality out of the three. The addition of a hardtop not only protected its occupants from the weather, but it also added even more voluptuous curves to the shape of the automobile’s body. The fixed head coupe was aimed squarely at the American export market, with the purpose of swaying even more Americans towards buying a car from across the pond. The added usefulness of this body style meant that it could be purchased as a daily driver or as an automobile to enjoy for the weekend and special occasions.

This example is a very correct car that was restored approximately seven years ago and has been driven in moderation since and “runs great.” The car is said to be running with its correct drivetrain that includes a 3.4-liter DOHC, twin carb inline six-cylinder engine with a floor-shift manual transmission. The car is said to be correct throughout, and it even has its toolkit. The overall mechanical package makes this car a true pleasure to drive. The rear fender skirts add greatly to the visual effect, which also features dual fender-mounted mirrors; the champagne with gray interior add a pure richness of tone, while the interior is equally lush with supple leather, carpets, Smiths instrumentation and splendid wood trim making for a lavish interior atmosphere.