The XK 120 was launched at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show and caused a sensation. It looked fabulous and was the fastest production car in the world. At its heart was a 3.4 litre straight six engine with twin overhead camshafts, an alloy head, seven main bearings, twin carbs and an output of 160 bhp. The car set new standards for performance and road-holding and the cockpit and equipment level was all an enthusiast could ask for. Orders taken for this exciting new car were significantly greater than the management at Jaguar were expecting.
Chassis 660259 was manufactured on the 8th November 1950 and is one of only 612 right hand drive cars produced. It was delivered to its first owner in January 1951. This was David Brake, a talented young racing driver who quickly entered the new 120 into the West Essex Car Club Speed Trial at Boreham. Pictures of this incredibly wet race were found in the LAT motoring archive and are included in the history file.
However, Brake’s serious racing interest was in Formula 3 where he was making a name for himself and mixing it with the likes of Moss, Collins, and Salvadori. However, later that year tragedy struck when he was involved in an accident at the wheel of his Cooper Norton and lost his life.
The Brake family retained the car, although it remained virtually unused, until 1989 when it appeared for sale in the famous London showrooms of ‘Coys of Kensington’. ‘FDP’ as it became known, was showing circa 4,000 miles from new. It was quickly bought by discerning enthusiast, Hugh Taylor, a keen historic racer who shared a car with one of the Directors of Coys. He was a passionate collector of highly original cars, notably his collection included a Maserati 300S, Alfa Romeo P3 and 8C Monza and an Invicta S Type. He was fastidious about FDP and only added 450 miles to its total in nearly 30 years of ownership.
When the time came for Hugh to sell the car he entrusted it to his old friends at Coys and it appeared in their Goodwood Auction in 2017, described as “a fantastically well preserved example’ and with the odometer reading just 4,620 miles. It was bought by leading XK expert, Jeremy Wade although likely acting for its next proper custodian and third owner, Mike Ridley of Shropshire. The history file contains Mike’s hand written notes on the car, its history and his ownership. He is well qualified on the subject having owned no less than 17 XK Jaguars.
Mike sold ‘FDP’ in 2020 through the highly regarded James Mitchell at Pendine Historic Cars. It was acquired by another astute enthusiast with an obsessive passion for originality, Peter Rae.
By 2023 Peter was rationalising his collection and in discussions with Mitchell at Pendine about selling ‘FDP’. At the same time the current owner was looking for a seriously good XK and consulting Guy Broad who was aware that the car was coming to market. A deal was done although Peter stipulated that, “ If the chap who’s buying it intends to f*** about with it, then I won’t sell it”. Splendid bloke that Mr. Rae.
‘FDP’ then spent several months in Guy Broad’s workshop being re-commissioned and sympathetically fettled, now with 5,272 miles on the clock. An incorrect radiator was replaced with a period item that had seen light use and evidence of an aftermarket heater and screen de-mister was found but left in place. The patina of the heat transfer box would suggest it was carried out early in its life and quite probably by David Brake after his very wet outing at Boreham in 1951.
With ‘FDP’ fettled into good order the current owner has demonstrated it at hill climbs and shown it in the Preservation Class at the Blenheim Palace Salon Privé and most notably won the RAC Club Trophy at Hampton Court. As a result of winning this award the car was displayed in the Rotunda of magnificent club headquarters on Pall Mall.
Historic cars with this degree of originality and genuine patina are incredibly rare. ‘FDP’ is very special and must be the most original and lowest mileage XK 120 extant. It will make a truly magnificent addition to any collection.
Offered for sale with a significant history file that includes a Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate, FIVA Identity Card, and large number of photographs, letters and invoices.
