Jaguar XK120 Record Car 1952

[StarLight]

StarLight presents the very rare one-off Jaguar KX120.
A car that sets a land speed record in 1953 and still holds it. A remarkable achievement by Jaguar.

With thanks to CostasDrifter for delivering the photo and idea.

In 1953 Sir William Lyons set out to prove the XK120 was on of the most capable cars by reaching 172.412 mph on the Jabbeke straight in Belgium.

Driver Norman Dewis piloted a modified XK120 with a small perspex bubble windscreen and it won the land speed record for a production car. It became the only Jaguar to hold a land speed record.

As a result of this achievement, a small brass plate was included on the dashboard of the XK120 describing the record run.

Dewis was piloting chassis 660986 registered ‘MDU524’. It was a factory race car which had already competed in the 1952 Alpine Trial before being fitted with its streamlined bodywork.

After the record run it was retained by the factory and used at Goodwood, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Crystal Palace and Brands Hatch without its streamlined configuration.

In 2013 an extensive restoration was done to MDU524 by JD Classics for Jaguar collector Jeff Lotman. The restoration was completed in 18 months and the car was reunited with Norman Dewis at the 2013 Quail Motorsports Gathering.


Specifications

Overview
Type: Record Car
Built at: Coventry, England
Production: 1

Powertrain
Engine: Cast Iron, Inline-6
Position: Front Longitudinal
Aspiration: Natural
Valvetrain: DOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl
Fuel feed: Twin SU H6 Carburettors
Displacement: 3442 cc / 210.0 in³
Bore: 83 mm / 3.27 in
Stroke: 106 mm / 4.17 in
Compression: 7.0:1
Power: 119.3 kw / 160.0 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Specific output: 46.48 bhp per litre
Torque: 264.38 nm / 195 ft lbs @ 2500 rpm
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual

Chassis
Body: Steel Body
Frame: Steel Frame
Front tires: 6.00x16
Rear tires: 6.00x16
Front brakes: Girling Hydraulic Drums
Rear brakes: Girling Hydraulic Drums
Steering: Re-circulating Ball
Front suspension: Double Wishbones w/Torsion Bar, Telescopic Shock Absorbers
Rear suspension: Live Axle w/Half Elliptic Springs, Girling Hydrualic Shock Absorbers

Dimensions
Wheelbase: 2591 mm / 102 in
Front track: 1295 mm / 51 in
Rear track: 1270 mm / 50 in
Length: 4394 mm / 173.0 in
Width: 1562 mm / 61.5 in
Height: 1245 mm / 49 in

Performance
Top speed: 279.97 kph / 174 mph

THE OTHER JAGUARS ARE HERE:

 

[Not_A_Guest]

160 bhp and already getting to 174 in REAL life? Imagine what it could do in GT6! With a turbo!

 

[CostasDrifter]

How could I not vote this? 👍

 

[cbarbosa]

Fantastic! 👍

 

[Sick Cylinder]

160 bhp and already getting to 174 in REAL life? Imagine what it could do in GT6! With a turbo!

It didn't break the record on 160bhp! The XK120 SE (MC) sold from 1951 to 1954 was rated at 210bhp as standard - you can be 100% sure that a car prepared by the factory for racing would have a lot more power than standard - even if it was only blueprinted and therefore in technically standard condition it would have at least 220bhp, plus you can see in picture 1 the side exit race exhaust and ram air inlets which replaced the headlamps - the speed reached was an astonishing feat for 1953!

It would certainly be nicer to drive in GT6/7 than in real life - after the record run the driver was lifted from the cockpit suffering from heat exhaustion and fume inhalation!

 

[Sick Cylinder]

StarLight presents the very rare one-off Jaguar KX120.
A car that sets a land speed record in 1953 and still holds it. A remarkable achievement by Jaguar.

With thanks to CostasDrifter for delivering the photo and idea.

In 1953 Sir William Lyons set out to prove the XK120 was on of the most capable cars by reaching 172.412 mph on the Jabbeke straight in Belgium.

Driver Norman Dewis piloted a modified XK120 with a small perspex bubble windscreen and it won the land speed record for a production car. It became the only Jaguar to hold a land speed record.

As a result of this achievement, a small brass plate was included on the dashboard of the XK120 describing the record run.

Dewis was piloting chassis 660986 registered ‘MDU524’. It was a factory race car which had already competed in the 1952 Alpine Trial before being fitted with its streamlined bodywork.

After the record run it was retained by the factory and used at Goodwood, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Crystal Palace and Brands Hatch without its streamlined configuration.

In 2013 an extensive restoration was done to MDU524 by JD Classics for Jaguar collector Jeff Lotman. The restoration was completed in 18 months and the car was reunited with Norman Dewis at the 2013 Quail Motorsports Gathering.


Specifications

Overview
Type: Record Car
Built at: Coventry, England
Production: 1

Powertrain
Engine: Cast Iron, Inline-6
Position: Front Longitudinal
Aspiration: Natural
Valvetrain: DOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl
Fuel feed: Twin SU H6 Carburettors
Displacement: 3442 cc / 210.0 in³
Bore: 83 mm / 3.27 in
Stroke: 106 mm / 4.17 in
Compression: 7.0:1
Power: 119.3 kw / 160.0 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Specific output: 46.48 bhp per litre
Torque: 264.38 nm / 195 ft lbs @ 2500 rpm
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual

Chassis
Body: Steel Body
Frame: Steel Frame
Front tires: 6.00x16
Rear tires: 6.00x16
Front brakes: Girling Hydraulic Drums
Rear brakes: Girling Hydraulic Drums
Steering: Re-circulating Ball
Front suspension: Double Wishbones w/Torsion Bar, Telescopic Shock Absorbers
Rear suspension: Live Axle w/Half Elliptic Springs, Girling Hydrualic Shock Absorbers

Dimensions
Wheelbase: 2591 mm / 102 in
Front track: 1295 mm / 51 in
Rear track: 1270 mm / 50 in
Length: 4394 mm / 173.0 in
Width: 1562 mm / 61.5 in
Height: 1245 mm / 49 in

Performance
Top speed: 279.97 kph / 174 mph

I think your title should be amended to 1953 to avoid confusion with the 1952 car which set many endurance records including averaging 100mph for 7 days and nights. Here's a picture of that car:

 

[CostasDrifter]

@Sick Cylinder

The year of Jaguar XK120 Record Car 1952 @StarLight posted, is the correct product year of the specific car. The Record of 172,4 mph was succeed in 1953.

From supercars.net

"Chassis 660986 registered ‘MDU524’. It was a factory race car which had already competed in the 1952 Alpine Trial before being fitted with its streamlined bodywork. After the record run it was retained by the factory and used at Goodwood, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Crystal Palace and Brands Hatch without its streamlined configuration"


Regards! 👍

 

[CostasDrifter]

A closer and better look to this unique car...