Not long after World War II, Jaguar developed its first proprietary engine, a high-output, twin-cam, inline, six-cylinder called the XK. Company founder and guiding spirit Sir William Lyons penned an open two-seat sports model to showcase this exciting new powerplant. Dubbed the XK 120 after its claimed top speed of 120 mph, it was conceived as a limited-production model to demonstrate the XK engine’s performance.
Offering unbeatable looks and performance to match, the XK 120 was a true landmark for Jaguar that established its reputation for crafting some of the very best all-purpose sports cars. Examples like this demonstrate why, over 70 years after its debut, interest in the model has not waned.
Story by RM Sotheby’s
