This Jaguar XK120 roadster is an alloy-bodied special that was custom built circa 2009 by Jason Len of XKs Unlimited in the spirit of Jaguar’s three 1951 lightweight works race cars. Acquired by the seller in 2015 from the second owner, the car features hand-formed, unpainted aluminum bodywork over a custom-made tube frame based on that of a Jaguar C-Type. Power is provided by a 3.8-liter XK inline-six that is equipped with triple Weber 45 DCOE carburetors and mated to a modified Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes a Franklin quick-change differential, E-Type rear axles and independent suspension components, adjustable Koni shock absorbers, Wilwood disc brakes, Dunlop-style wheels, rack-and-pinion steering, Moss Green leather upholstery, side-exit exhaust pipes, and Brooklands-style windscreens. The car was the subject of a Jay Leno’s Garage segment in 2015 and is titled as a 1951 Jaguar XK120. It is now offered in Glendale, Arizona with a set of driving lights and a clean Montana title in the name of a corporation owned by the seller and his partner.
While preparing its new C-Type race car in 1951, Jaguar built three lightweight XK120 roadsters to serve as potential stand-ins at Le Mans in the event of a delay in the C-Type’s development. Referred to as LT1, LT2, and LT3, the three XK120s were ultimately not needed at Le Mans, and were instead sold to privateers. This custom build recreates several design elements of the original LT cars, including a solid fascia with a removable louvred hood panel, smaller doors over outer sills, and Brooklands-style windscreens.
Aluminum body panels were hand fabricated and remain unpainted. Custom touches include a tilt-up tail section, a driver’s headrest fairing, exhaust pipes exiting the left-front fender, an intake vent to the right of the front grille, and oval front valence cutouts. Cutouts above the grille were inspired by Alfa Romeo race cars of the 1930s. Additional exterior features include headlight stone guards, a leather hood strap, and a Monza-style fuel filler cap.
The custom-made chassis is modeled on a C-Type tube frame and incorporates added stiffening and other adjustments to accommodate ungraded suspension components. Replica 15″ Dunlop wheels are secured by two-eared knock-offs and wear Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires. Four-wheel Wilwood disc brakes utilize vented rotors, which are situated inboard out back.
Both bucket seats were reupholstered during current ownership in Moss Green leather. Color-matched trim covers the center tunnel, upper dash, door caps, rear bulkhead, and single headrest. Additional equipment includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, faired-in cowl mirror, and four-point safety harnesses.
The dash fascia was inspired by the D-Type’s layout. Replica D-Type instrumentation includes a 180-mph speedometer and 8k-rpm tachometer, as well as gauges for monitoring fuel level, oil temperature, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and amperage. The five-digit odometer indicates that just over 1k miles have been added since the build was completed, and the car has been driven about 50 miles during current ownership.
The 3.8-liter DOHC inline-six was sourced from an E-Type and is fitted with triple Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, performance camshafts, larger valves, a Vertex magneto, an aluminum flywheel, and custom exhaust headers. The cooling system features a custom aluminum radiator with an electric fan and an oil cooler. Shifting is through a Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual transmission that was modified with custom gear ratios. Fluid changes were performed in January 2020.
Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a Franklin quick-change differential and E-type axles. The rear suspension setup incorporates adjustable Koni coilover shocks along with the hubs and control arms from a Jaguar E-Type. Adjustable Koni shocks also provide dampening up front, and steering is handled by a rack-and-pinion system. A 25-gallon ATL fuel cell is housed at the rear of the car, and additional safety equipment includes a five-pound fire-suppression system covering the engine compartment, passenger area, and rear compartment.
The data plate has been stamped with chassis number XK120LT1-004. The car is titled in Montana as a 1951 Jaguar XK120 using this chassis number.
The 2015 episode of Jay Leno’s Garage attached above includes an interview with builder Jason Len about the car’s features, as well as footage of it being driven. The light bar with driving lights worn by the car in the video is included in the sale.
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