Lot 187 - 1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster Ex-Duncan Hamilton

• Significant race history
• Raced successfully by Duncan Hamilton
• Restored to its former glory

The Jaguar XK120 was manufactured between 1948 and 1954 and was their first sportscar since the SS100 which ceased production in 1940. It was launched in roadster form at the 1948 London Motor Show as a show car for the new Jaguar XK engine. It caused a sensation thus persuading Jaguar founder and design boss, William Lyons, to put the car into production. The '120' in its name referred to its top speed which made the XK120 the world's fastest standard production car at the time of its launch. It was available in two open versions; first as the roadster, then also as a drophead coupé from 1953 and also as a closed, or 'fixedhead' coupé, from 1951. With alloy cylinder heads and twin side-draft SU carburettors, the double overhead-cam 3.4 litre straight-six XK engine was comparatively advanced for a mass-produced unit of the time. With a standard compression ratio of 8:1, it developed 160bhp.

This is no ordinary Jaguar XK120. Chassis number 660332 was raced in period by Duncan Hamilton.
Manufactured on 22nd November 1950 and delivered via Henlys of London to its first owner, a Mr. Philip Fotheringham-Parker a little over two weeks later bearing the registration number LXF 731.
Fotheringham-Parker was an amateur racing driver of the immediate pre and post-war years combining sufficient levels of wealth, talent and enthusiasm to enjoy a respectable level of success in both national and international events. His friend Duncan Hamilton, an ex-Lysander pilot was building his reputation as a very competitive racing driver. XK120’s were proving to be successful after their competition debut at Silverstone in 1949. Hence the reason why Fotheringham-Parker purchased one. When he took delivery of LXF 731 in late 1950 he lent it to Hamilton who proceeded to race it at national and international events throughout 1951 and so began a very fruitful relationship between the Jaguar marque and Duncan Hamilton, gaining victories with the Works team at Le Mans in 1953 and Rheims in 1956. The first recorded event for LXF 731 was the one-hour production car race at the Daily Express Silverstone Trophy Meeting held on 5th May 1951. With Hamilton at the wheel, LXF 731 came home in third place behind Stirling Moss and Charles Dodson. The next outing at the Portuguese Grand Prix on 17th June was less successful with Hamilton retiring, he soon made amends by securing two victories in the XK120 at Boreham in the Williams Lyons Trophy race and the Unlimited Race on 11th August 1951.

In later years the car found its way to Northern Ireland where it was purchased by David Bazire. The car was fully restored in 2011 to its early race specification and has since been maintained regardless of cost as is evident from its current immaculate presentation. The car was sold by JD Classics in 2014 for £1,250,000 and we understand that during the last few years, LXF 731 has successfully completed the Mille Miglia on two occasions and the Le Mans Legends Support Race. A comprehensive history file accompanies the Jaguar, including correspondence between Bazire and Hamilton. This is a hugely important historical car, both from Jaguar Cars point of view and from the immensely charismatic and successful works driver Duncan Hamilton.

Period Race History

1951

5th May

Track: Silverstone, Daily Express Trophy Meeting
Race: 1 hour Production Car race
Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 30
Result: 3rd

17th June

Track: Circuito da Boavista, Porto
Race: 1st Grand Prix of Portugal
Driver: Duncan Hamilton
Result: DNF

11th August

Track: Boreham
Race: Williams Lyons Trophy
Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 108
Result: 1st

Race: Unlimited National Race
Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 108
Result: 1st

18th August

Track: Goodwood, BARC 7th Members meeting
Race: Over 3000cc Sports Car race
Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 36
Result: 2nd

Race: Handicap race A
Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 36
Result: 2nd

Race: Handicap race D
Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 36
Result: 2nd

Race: Handicap race E
Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 36
Result: 2nd

29th September

Track: Goodwood, International meeting
Race: Sports Car race
Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 61
Result: 5th

Race: Handicap race
Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 61
Result: 3rd

13th October
Track: Winfield
Race: Unlimited Sports Car race
Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 57
Result: Finished

1952

31st March – 2nd April
Event: RAC International Rally
Driver: C M Kemp
Result: Finished

May

Event: Morecambe Rally
Driver: C M Kemp. Car No. 30
Result: Finished

30th August
Track: Silverstone
Race: 750 MC 6 Hour Relay race
Driver: C M Kemp. Car No. 29A
Result: 4th

13th September
Track: Silverstone
Race: MCC Sports Car race
Driver: C M Kemp. Car No. 4
Result: Finished