1953 jaguar xk120 - john starkey cars

1953 JAGUAR XK120
1953 Jaguar XK120
1953 Jaguar XK120
Readers of this website will know that I've always had a soft spot for the Jaguar XK120,
having owned several, in both Roadster and Fixed Head Coupe form over the years. My
last one was a real blood and thunder FHC, with “D” type engine, disc brakes, aluminum
bodywork, bonnet strap, the lot. I remember racing it at the Isle of Man Classic TT in about
1993? and then sold it. I’m sure it's giving some owner in the UK a lot of pleasure today!
The urge to own another 120 became too much, particularly after I’d sold our 1963 Buick
Riviera, which I noted with a shock that we’d owned for over three years…. So I seized a
copy of "”Hemmings” and started calling. Most of the owners that I contacted seemed to
have good cars but they also seemed to live in places like Nevada and Washington and
Colorado, all of which were a long way away. Then I spotted a simple two-line
advertisement that said: “1953 XK120. Grey, red interior, tan convertible, excellent
condition, correct numbers, chrome wires.” I called and left a message and that evening
© John Starkey 2012
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
Page 1
1953 Jaguar XK120
the owner, a surgeon living in Melbourne, Florida, returned my call. He told me that he’d
owned the car for about six years, had uprated the starter motor, fitted an aluminum
radiator and replaced the master cylinder and had just owned and enjoyed it but now
didn’t use it much and so was selling it. He was at great pains to tell me that: “It’s not a
concours car, it’s a driver. I’ve owned concours car and you’re always scared it’ll get dirty
or get stone chips on it.”
This was exactly what I wanted to hear as I don’t like concours cars either and I asked the
owner for photos, which he quickly emailed to me. The car looked wonderful in the photos,
so the Friday after Thanksgiving, I set out to Melbourne, just 160 miles away for a test
drive in the XK. She was as good as the photos promised and, as I eased myself behind
the large steering wheel, memories came flooding back. That cramped seating position,
the steering wheel in your lap, the brake and clutch pedals being too close but still, that’s
all part of an XK!
© John Starkey 2012
Page 2
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
1953 Jaguar XK120
The engine sounded wonderful through the twin pipe set up and the test drive went well.
This was obviously a well looked after car. The owner and myself came to a deal, I drove
home in the truck and the next day Su and I set off back to Melbourne to pick it up. Money
changed hands, the spare parts went into the truck and we were off.
The first forty miles from Melbourne to Kissimmee passed joyously, the feeling of open air
motoring once again, the sound of the engine purring away, all was idyllic until we
reached the traffic light strewn streets of Kissimmee, when I started to hear a misfire,
which rapidly came down the rev range from four to two thousand revs. At that point, I
realized that we were not going to make it home and dived into a Chevron garage and
called AAA, who were wonderful, their truck arriving within thirty minutes.
So our new XK finished up going to St. Petersburg on a flat bed but I had the sense to call
Larry Ligas at Predator, THE Jaguar expert locally to us and was able to drop the car off
at his shop. The tow finished up costing us the princely sum of five dollars, money well
spent.
© John Starkey 2012
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
Page 3
1953 Jaguar XK120
As a postscript, Larry called up on Monday morning and, when I asked him if he’d found
the cause of the misfire, he laughed and said: “There’s a manual choke on it and you left it
on.” Aargh! I had assumed this XK still had the old electrical choke on it. D’oh!
So right now she’s sitting in Larry’s shop, having the brake and clutch pedals shortened
and a general service. I can'’t wait to get on the road with her!
© John Starkey 2012
Page 4
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
1953 Jaguar XK120
© John Starkey 2012
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
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1953 Jaguar XK120
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www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
1953 Jaguar XK120
© John Starkey 2012
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
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1953 Jaguar XK120
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www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
1953 Jaguar XK120
© John Starkey 2012
www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA
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1953 Jaguar XK120
Site Contents © John Starkey 2012
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www.johnstarkeycars.com
(727) 384 1179 USA