Jaguar XK120

1939 TO 1945 WAS ALTOGETHER a different period in the history of the British Motor Industry; many vehicle manufacturers were engaged in work totally divorced from their mainline bread and butter. Others had successfully negotiated contracts with the Ministry of Defence that would 'keep their foot in the door', producing tank engines, armoured cars, trucks, ambulances, staff cars, trailers, even sidecars. The trick was to get an MoD order large enough to justify a certain amount of development work. (more…)

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The Jaguar XK120 was a sports car manufactured by Jaguar Cars between 1949 and 1954. It was the first post-war sports car from the marque, succeeding the SS100 which ended production in 1940 with the start of the war in Britain. The XK120 was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show as a test bed and show vehicle to highlight the new Jaguar XK engine. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded William Lyons to put it into production as a standard model. (more…)