According to the accompanying Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate, this XK 120 SE Roadster was built to left-hand drive specifications and finished in Light Grey over a Black leather interior with Grey piping and a black soft top. Completed by the factory on June 22, 1954, the car was destined for the united states and sold new through Charles Hornburg’s distributorship in Los Angeles.

This car’s fascinating early history is recorded in a letter from the son of the first owner, which is included in the history file. After arriving in the Golden State, the XK 120 was purchased by John Hutchins from the dealership British Motor Cars located in Oakland, California. Hutchins purchased the car intending for it to be driven for his wife as a 25th anniversary present. Initially cautious about the car and managing its power and performance, Mrs. Hutchin’s quickly became comfortable with her new XK 120 and drove it to and from work, which continued until the early 1970’s. Mr. Hutchin’s certainly enjoyed her time behind the wheel as well, and after his retirement in 1964, would drive his wife to and from work in the XK 120 as well.

Their son, also named John, learned how to driven on the car when he was sixteen years old in 1956 and even used the car for his driving test. John remarked that the car was prone to overheating on the hills and in traffic, but it was otherwise tremendous fun to drive. In the Hutchin’s family’s ownership, the car did not stray far from Northern California, and John recalls in his letter that the furthest he took the car away from their native Oakland was to Pinecrest, California, roughly 150 miles east. John Hutchin’s senior passed away in December of 1972 at the age of 65.

The XK 120 sat in their garage in Oakland until Mrs. Hutchin’s moved to Danville to be closer to her son, and the car was brought with her. Despite the move, the car would remain preserved there for nearly forty years. John attempted to recommission the car in 1980 in an effort to get it back on the road but due to a change in his working life, this work was never completed. It remained with the family until 2017 at which point it was sold to the consignor, a dealer based in the Netherlands. Since arriving in the Netherlands, the car has remained unrestored and untouched with its current owner, without even being cleaned since its arrival in the Netherlands.

Importantly, the car is accompanied by a soft top, spare tyre, tool kit, tyre pump, jack, top cover, and side windows. The engine is presently running, although it is advised that further mechanical work be completed before it is returned to the road. Although it cannot be proven conclusively, the car's mileage showing just under 44,000 miles from new is believed to be original.

Presented in overwhelmingly original and unrestored condition including original paintwork except for the trunk lid according to the consignor, the paint could easily be preserved if the new owner so desires. The possibilities are seemingly limitless for its next custodian. An excellent candidate for a restoration or for preservation-class concours events,

Should you want more information on the condition of this lot and or discuss the possibility of an in-situ inspection, please contact our office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email Britta Buchmann at bbuchmann@rmsothebys.com