1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe

• Delivered new in the USA

• Matching chassis, body, and engine numbers

• In Switzerland and owned by only three owners since 1978

• Formerly owned by the president of the Jaguar Owners' Club

• Swiss registration document

The XK120 set new standards for comfort, handling, performance, and styling among British sports cars.

Its striking appearance was combined with a separate chassis, independent front suspension via wishbones and torsion bars, a live rear axle, and large hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels. The heart of the car was, of course, the fantastic XK engine. Designed during wartime and intended for Jaguar's post-war saloon, the 3. 4-litre inline six-cylinder engine embodied the best of modern design, with double overhead camshafts in an aluminium cylinder head, seven main bearings, and maximum power of 160 hp combined with endless torque.

The bodywork was the work of Jaguar boss William Lyons himself – and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful forms ever to grace a car. It was conceived as an aluminium structure for the simple reason that Jaguar expected to sell no more than 200 XK120 Roadsters – or Open Two Seaters (OTS) – in the first year! The exquisitely beautiful and well-balanced Fixed Head Coupé (FHC) soon followed, and it remains one of the most celebrated closed coupé designs to date on a non-coachbuilt passenger car, bearing a strong resemblance to some of the finest lines of Jean Bugatti's Type 57 Atalante masterpiece.

“We claimed a speed of 200 km/ h for the XK120, a speed that was unheard of for a production car at the time.” – William Heynes, Chief Engineer, Jaguar Cars.

Jaguar's claim was duly verified when a carefully prepared example achieved a speed of 200. 4 km/ h with the bonnet and side panels raised, and 212. 10 km/ h without weather protection and equipped with an undertray! The XK120 was also the foundation of Jaguar's racing dynasty and the first model for many future automotive legends, including Stirling Moss and Phil Hill. In various respects, Jaguar's 'XK' engine ensured that the Jaguar XK 120 C, C-Type, and D-Type sports racers achieved international racing dominance, including five Jaguar victories (1951, 1953, and 1955–57) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

According to the Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate, this left-hand-drive XK120 Coupé, one of 2, 484 built, left the factory on April 18, 1952, as a personal export delivery via City Motors, Oxford, destined for the USA. The original colour scheme was cream with a red interior. Two former owners are known: Jaguar Owners' Club Chairman Urs Schmid (1978–1988) and Rudolf Schnorf (1988–2015). The current seller acquired the XK from Mr Schnorf. The car is fitted with new electrical systems and new interior upholstery, with invoices available, and is described as being generally in good condition. Additional documentation consists of a FIVA identity card issued in 2016, a heritage document, and a Swiss registration document.

This car has a Dutch registration.