£POA
Race Cars
£ POA
The ex-Jack Sears 1954 Jaguar XK120 Coupé - SOLD
This is now SOLD. Search for similar items.
Description:
To be sold at the 14th September Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale
Estimate: £150,000 - £200,000
The ex-Jack Sears
1954 Jaguar XK120 Coupé
Registration no. DVV 200
Chassis no. S669125
*Driven by Jack Sears throughout the 1954 season
*One of only 194 right-hand drive XK120 fixed-head coupés built
*Present ownership since 2003
*£30,000 spent on mechanical recommissioning the engine in the last 12 months
*Fordwater Trophy participant
'Three coachloads of Jaguar employees made the pilgrimage to Silverstone and were rewarded for their enthusiasm by seeing one of our cars gain one of the most convincing victories seen on a race track... whenever or wherever a production car race is held again, we may be sure that Jaguar will be well represented and will give a good account of itself.' – Jaguar Journal, 1949.
The XK 120 set new standards of comfort, road holding and performance for British sports cars, and in keeping with the Jaguar tradition there was nothing to touch it at the price. It was an immense success in North America, finding the majority of its customers there, and when Road & Track tested one in 1951 they announced that 'the XK120 has performance far and above any stock American make... by far the fastest car yet tested by Road & Track, a two-way average of 121.6mph being attained.'
Although it had not been designed with racing in mind, the XK120's competition potential was immediately obvious, not least to the factory, which entered a three-car team in the Daily Express one-hour race for standard production cars at Silverstone in August 1949. The XK's of Leslie Johnson and Peter Walker duly rewarded Jaguar's faith in its new sports car by finishing 1st and 2nd respectively, thus setting the scene for an illustrious competition career that would culminate in the development of the legendary Le Mans-winning C-Type.
One of only 194 right-hand drive XK120 fixed-head coupés built, this example was bought new by famous racing driver the late Jack Sears, who would go on to win the inaugural British Saloon Car Championship in 1958 and regain the title in 1963, in addition to drives for the BMC Works, Tommy Sopwith's Equipe Endeavour, Willment and Maranello Concessionaires teams, the latter who he drove for at Le Mans. Driven by him in the RAC Rally and at Goodwood, Snetterton, and various hill climb venues, the XK comes with a detailed list of Jack's results for 1954. 'DVV 200' is mentioned and pictured in Sears' biography, Gentleman Jack, and has appeared in numerous other publications devoted to the marque, including The Jaguar XKs by Paul Skilleter and Original Jaguar XK by Philip Porter.
In the 1970s, 'DVV 200' was bought another notable racing driver and Le Mans competitor, by Peter Sargent and his brother Michael. Michael Sargent did not race the XK but owned it for some 20-plus years. Subsequently 'DVV 200' had one owner – Brian Perring, who acquired the car in 2000 – before passing to the current vendor in 2003, so has been sold only twice in the last 40-plus years.
While in the vendor's care, the XK has benefited from over £30,000 spent on the mechanical recommissioning engine over the last 12 months with renowned marque specialists CKL Developments Ltd. Noteworthy features include 2" sand-cast SU carburettors, D-Type cams, and 9.1 compression ratio a high-torque starter motor. The original Moss gearbox and drum brakes are retained, as is the original 'sprint' rear axle (a standard (rebuilt) rear axle is also included in the sale). Accompanying documentation includes an old-style logbook, sundry invoices dating back to the 1970's, a Heritage Certificate, MoT history, a V5C Registration Certificate, current FIA papers, and numerous period photographs, some signed by Jack Sears.
'DVV 200' Raced in the Fordwater Trophy event at the Goodwood Revival in 2018 and is surely going to be a welcome invitee in the future.
Please contact the Bonhams Motor Car Department for further information on 020 7468 5806.
