Description
It’s back! One of our best ever XK120’s - this ‘1951 Jaguar XK120 Competition Roadster’, LRW747 is an early steel bodied Works Registered XK120 Roadster that was dispatched from the Jaguar Factory on the 26th of November 1951. The first owner was none other than, Lt. Col. Ronnie Hoare, Founder of Maranello Concessionaires, the UK Ferrari Importer and Race Manager, who was very close friends with Sir William Lyons.
Bob Berry, from Jaguar’s Competition Department, was given responsibility for preparing and testing the car prior to the hand over of the car to Lt. Col. Ronnie Hoare.
John Coombs contacted Ronnie Hoare’s widow, and Chief Race Mechanic, who both remember the car well and say that he owned the car for at least 3 years and used it while he was a Commander, based in West Germany.
LRW747 passed through a few owners before being acquired by Anthony Hutton in the late 1960s by which time the car had been repainted Black. Hutton was the Competition Secretary for the XK Register and soon pressed the XK into action with entries at many of the major competition venues of the period including Silverstone, Thruxton and Prescott.
Hutton was also instrumental in helping to organise the XK Parade ahead of the 1970 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, which commemorated the 21st Anniversary of the XK120’s maiden victory in 1949. During this parade a number of world class drivers were driven around the track and LRW747 had the honour of hosting the great Australian driver, Jack Brabham.
The car was sold by Mr Hutton to a collector in Cumbria. A major restoration was started, the project sold on to a Mr Clements, but not finally finished until 2008 when JD Classics purchased the Car.
JD Classics prepared the car for competition and ran it at the Goodwood Revival on 2008 and at the Silverstone Classic Daily Express XK race in 2009. Further competition activity followed appearances as part of the 2015 HSCC / Jaguar Heritage Works Race Team, another entry to the Goodwood Revival ‘Fordwater Trophy’ in 2015 and a well-placed finish in the Mille Miglia in 2017 and 2019. In 2023 the Car competed faultlessly at the Modena Cento Ore Rally.
This outstanding XK120 is in perfect condition. It is accompanied with a good history file including period photographs, original paddock and scrutineering tags, correspondence and magazine articles that feature the car. An outstanding opportunity to acquire a fully prepared competition XK120 with a fascinating race history.
Contact our Sales Team for more details.
