The XK120 was ‘knocked’ together as a display car. Jaguar originally designed the XK engine for the Mk7, but were unable to have the car ready for the 1948 London Motor Show, so the body shop built the shell to display the motor in just 2 weeks. Originally a 3.4 engine, built to reach speeds of 120mph, resulting in its name the XK120. The car was such a hit that Jaguar decided to produce it, the first 200 were made in the factory in aluminium before production of the panels moved to pressed steel. The early cars were very successful in motor racing. We worked on the trim for this vehicle which tips its hat to the race cars of the day, with Jaguar competition department aluminium seats, among other differences to a production car.