1953 Jaguar XK120 Roadster 5-Speed

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong.

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy. 

* * *

The 1953 Jaguar XK120 was a landmark in postwar automotive design and performance. Introduced in 1948, the XK120 was originally intended as a limited-production showcase for Jaguar’s new XK engine — a 3.4-liter inline-six producing 160 horsepower. However, overwhelming public interest led Jaguar to put the car into full production. By 1953, the XK120 had evolved into a refined sports car available in three body styles: the open two-seater (roadster), fixed-head coupe, and drophead coupe.

The car’s name reflected its top speed —120 mph— making it the fastest production car of its time. The 1953 model featured improved brakes and suspension, and the car’s sleek aerodynamic styling, combined with its robust performance, made it a favorite among enthusiasts and racers alike.

Jaguar’s success with the XK120 helped establish its reputation in the American market, especially after victories in international competitions like the Alpine Rally and the Mille Miglia. Subsequent feats, including averaging over 100 mph for 24 hours and over 130 mph for an hour at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry in France, further solidified the XK120's reputation as a high-performance sports car.

Highlights

• Offered from The Generous Collection

• Open Two-Seater (OTS) body

• Finished in silver paint over Oxblood Red leather upholstery and red carpet

• New black convertible top, side curtains, and tonneau cover

• Powered by a 3.4-liter inline-six rated at 160 horsepower

• Upgraded five-speed manual transmission

Features

• Factory rear fender “spats” with removal tool

• Chrome front bumper and rear overriders

• Split windshield

• Four-spoke steering wheel

• Leather dashboard trim

• Dash-mounted rearview mirror

• 140-mph speedometer and 6,000-rpm tachometer (with clock)

• Correct factory steel wheels and hub caps

• Avon 185R16 tires

Known Imperfections

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• A couple of paint chips up front

• Scratch on passenger front fender near signal lamp

Included

• Tonneau cover and side curtains

• Extensive documentation and invoices

• Original service manual

• Hardcover spare parts catalogue for Jaguar XK120 (Feb. 1958)

• Service manual (3-ring binder)

• Original shifter and transmission

Ownership History

This 1953 Jaguar XK120 OTS is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles.

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Ramsey Potts Phone: 912.508.4096 email: rpotts@hagerty.com

Title in Transit:  

What does Title in Transit mean? 

Hagerty Marketplace has confirmed a clean title status, the owner maintains the title in hand and will send it to the Hagerty Marketplace team to be reassigned to the new owner after the auction is complete. 

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.