GTP Cool Wall: 1948-1954 Jaguar XK120

[Tornado]

The coupe version of this is hopelessly stupid looking, but the roadster is achingly pretty. Plus pretty influential over the next decade or so.

Plus that same old "old Jag hype"....

This car was the standard that other cars of its were type were measured against when it was still new. And they made far more than was necessary for the car (and the mostly similar replacement) to escape the usual hermetically sealed garage queen status.



So "not a protest vote" aside, not really, no.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Though this isn't a protest vote.. this car is 1940's beige, nothing more.

Try as you might, the Jag isn't the post-ware equivalent of this:

 

[Beeblebrox237]

conservative older gentleman

There's absolutely nothing political in that statement. If you disagree then I suggest you consult a dictionary

@MatskiMonk It's your opinion, naturally, but I think SU is a bit harsh. I certainly see what you mean when you describe it as beige, but bear in mind that this car was touted and tested as the fastest in the world when it was new.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Try as you might, the Jag isn't the post-ware equivalent of this:

View attachment 500090

Not from a technical or commercial point of view, but both appear to be fairly generic examples of their type. Perhaps the Jag wasn't at the time, but that's how I see it these days, without the grille I'd never pick it out from a line-up - that might even be an off-shoot of so many other cars trying to mimic it's style or it's performance - but either way there is nothing about the Jag to elevate it above other such cars in my opinion. I dislike the E-type styling greatly, but at least it stands out - infact, I'm pretty sure I think most Jags ever built are pretty ugly (with a couple of exceptions), so I doubt I'll ever get my head round the seemingly automatic affection they get for their aesthetic.

@MatskiMonk It's your opinion, naturally, but I think SU is a bit harsh. I certainly see what you mean when you describe it as beige, but bear in mind that this car was touted and tested as the fastest in the world when it was new.

Well that's one of the many double standards of the cool wall... do we judge it as it is now, or as it was then? I wasn't around in the 1940's so this car has never made a particular performance impact on me. In any case I genuinely find this car without any redeeming features, and lacking in any of the qualities I think it needs to be considered cool -- that gets it an uncool, it gets the SU because of what I perceive as unfounded praise from the old Jag bandwagon.



But that's all just my personal opinion. Maybe someone should poll a BMW 327 and see how I get on with that

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Well that's one of the many double standards of the cool wall... do we judge it as it is now, or as it was then?

We judge it as it is now, but I find a car's past achievements can stick with it. After all, what do we remember the [admittedly much more recent) McLaren F1 for?

In any case I genuinely find this car without any redeeming features

Really? It may not appeal to you, but it is a rather pretty two seat sports car with a punchy straight six, a manual gearbox, and rear wheel drive. Surely that isn't a terrible thing.

and lacking in any of the qualities I think it needs to be considered cool -- that gets it an uncool, it gets the SU because of what I perceive as unfounded praise from the old Jag bandwagon.

That's fair enough, and while I disagree I feel you've justified yourself well and logically.

 

[TheCracker]

I think it's a little nieve to say this is a generic looking 1950's car. It looks nothing like a Morris Oxford, Chevy Bel Air or Citroen DS. Or absolutely any other car of the era, for that matter.

Never liked it myself, but it is a cool car.

 

[ScottPuss20]

It's just a lovely car. Cool

 

[MatskiMonk]

Really? It may not appeal to you, but it is a rather pretty two seat sports car with a punchy straight six, a manual gearbox, and rear wheel drive. Surely that isn't a terrible thing.

Perhaps not, okay so I'll rephrase, "not enough" redeeming features. A 90's BMW Z3 2.8i doesn't appeal to me either in case people are wondering. Poll that, let's see how many people think a RWD I6 is "cool" in those circumstances.

 

[niky]

I have never understood the hype for the E-Type at all. Sorry, but I don't see it as jaw droppingly gorgeous. Very pretty, yes, but not to the level people make it out to be. Might be my warped mind, but I find that the coupe is too phallic and the roadster is far too fussy in the rear.

This, on the other hand, oozes class.

It's indeed debatable whether the E-Type is or is not the prettiest out there, but the hype is built partly on the fact that it's so distinctive.

And so brashly sexual. The alternatingly phallic / feminine symbolism of the body projects both aggression and desire, which is no mean feat. It's one of those things so seemingly simple that you're often left wondering why no one had thought of it before... like the Beetle, the Mini or the 911. Paradigm-changing.

While I still like the XK120 better, it's more of a continuation... or a perfection, if you'd like... of existing trends. Sort of like the last of the old-style Jaguar XJs (around 06 or 07, I think, the 350s) which were achingly pretty cars, but about as original as a modern 911.

Thus, I understand where some people are coming from concerning the looks of the XK120, but to my eyes it's immediately distinct to any of the other aero-bodied cycle-fender designs out there.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Nobody looks bad in one of these. Seriously cool.

 

[Stotty]

The drop tops have sublime proportions - much less in your face than an E-Type, which always look too narrow of track compared to length/wheelbase to my eyes.

I was watching an old TG episode over the weekend, and James May drove one of these... apparently the fastest car on sale when it was released... 126mph must have felt ridiculously fast in the last 40's!

SZ

 

[playnthru]

120,140,150 indicates the top speed of each model. I prefer the coupé over the convertible though.

Jaguar XK 120 Coupe by Sean Moylan, on Flickr

Easy sz

 

[MoLiEG]

Classic Jaguar.

SZ.

 

[MisterWaffles]

Reminds me of that villain car from Dalmatians.

Sssssssz.

 

[mustafur]

probably one of the first cars to move the 40s into the 50s in terms of design, and its power to weight ratio today is actually very good, this would of been a beast back then.

SZ