Jaguar XK120 OTS “Roadster” (1951)

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Launched in Roadster form at the 1948 London Motor Show as a testbed and show car for the new Jaguar XK engine, the eruption was such that Jaguar founder and design head, William Lyons, put the XK120 into production.

The "120" in its name referred to its 120 mph top speed which made the XK120 the world's fastest standard production car at the time of its launch. Success in motor racing secured the cars future and an icon was born. Development continued through the 120 with the introduction of the Special Equipment, or SE, in 1951 which boasted an extra 20bhp, meaning the fastest production car of the time now delivered 180bhp, and some handy styling cues to boot. Today, Jaguar XKs, and particularly 120s, remain well sought-after and highly desirable models.

The XK120 became a massive success both on the road and the track, with drivers from the likes of Stirling Moss, Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead, Leslie Johnson and Ian Appleyard. In XK120C/C-type form it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1951 and 1953, while the same type engine went on to power three more Le Sarthe winners and a host of successful Jaguar models over the next half century.