Upon its unveiling at Earls Court in 1948, Jaguar’s XK120 took the world by storm. Jaguar’s first sports car since the SS 100 stopped production in 1940, and the XK120 was at the cutting edge in terms of both design and performance. The “120” stood for the Jaguar’s top speed, making it the fastest production car in the world at its introduction. Originally intended for a limited production of just 200 units, massive demand quickly pushed the XK120 into regular production. Little did Jaguar know at the time that the XK120’s original 3.4-liter engine would be so successful that its basic design would remain in road going Jaguars for nearly 40 years.

The roadster was the first XK120 body style introduced to the public, and it was arguably the most attractive. With swooping fenders running the entire length of the car’s body, the XK120’s design was quite dramatic and pulled at the heartstrings of nearly everyone who saw it. By the last year of production, in 1954, Jaguar had produced a grand total of 2,256 roadsters, making it the most popular body style of the line.

The current owner has been in possession of this XK120 Roadster since 1999. He took extreme pride in his XK120, and he was always sure to extend it the best care and maintenance, as well as exercising it regularly to ensure that it ran as it should. Under his ownership, the car was maintained by British Automotive Repair, of Scottsdale, Arizona, who reported that this XK120 is in exemplary cosmetic and mechanical condition. A restoration in the mid-1990s refinished it in black with a red leather interior, while the majority of the car’s internal components remain mostly original, including its 3.4-liter engine and transmission.

The most notable feature of this XK120 is its factory hardtop. Only fitted to a small percentage of roadsters, the factory hardtop is easily installed and looks fantastic, only adding to the roadster’s dramatic lines. The same portable windows that affix to the more popular soft top are also interchangeable with the hardtop, making this XK120 an excellent choice for long-distance vintage rallies. The original soft top and tonneau cover are included in the sale as well, making it a rare three-top example.

Interestingly, this car was featured in The Jaguar Story by Joseph H. Wherry. Sporting the same fiberglass hardtop, the car was finished in cream and brown and was appropriately nicknamed “Chocolate Sundae.” Taken on an extensive test drive by the author, he remarks that “taking the curves was a pleasure in an XK 120 Roadster, the sharper, the better. Using the gears properly, shifting down if in mountains or just for the fun of it, and then applying the accelerator pressure would bring the car through without excessive lean.”

In the world of the XK120, this is very rare car. Factory hardtops are extremely hard to come by, and considering its incredible condition, it will be difficult to pass up for any Jaguar aficionado. As when tested for The Jaguar Story, this XK120 will surely continue to be a pleasure to drive, be it top on or off.