2005-12-23 22:18:20 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction in '96
www.practicalclassics.co.uk/auctionlot/by-id/156443849/

Auction description:
Lot 024: Jaguar XK120 M (1953)
, Christies (15th June 1996)
Lot Details
Auction Christies, Tarrytown sales centre, Tarrytown
Type Car
Lot Number 024
Estimate $45000-$55000
Hammer Price -
Hammer Price (inc premium) -
Year 1953
Condition rating
Registration number
Mileage -
Chassis number S673482
Engine number W72668S

2007-10-19 00:00:00 | ben sweeney writes:

do you have the original gearbox? i own JL15395

2012-12-02 10:40:55 | John Starkey writes:

I just bought this car. Absolutely beautiful to look at and drive-does anyone have previous ownership history? I know it did California Mille in 1992.

2012-12-03 06:18:57 | Peter Ingram writes:

I had this with Desoe & T Moro of Florida. Eng W 7266-8S Body F 5533 and registered KUL CAT Battleship Grey. Please confirm or correct. Is it still in Florida ??

2012-12-09 07:58:16 | John Starkey writes:

Thank you, Yes, confirm I own car. Boubght from Bob Cooper of Melbourne, Florida recently. He bought from Kirk White, (Dealer). I think Mr Desoe bought it before him. Trying to research history.

John Starkey

2012-12-16 07:47:47 | John Starkey writes:

Just found a previous owner, Mr Charles Gambill of Illinois. I spoke with him last night and he told me that he had bought it, he thought, in about 1988. He had done a lot of work on the car, including rebuilding the engine and gearbox. He could not remember from whom he bought it, but thought they may have lived in Chicago. Anyone remember anything about this? Mr Gambill sold the XK to Dr Irwin Ginsberg of Buffalo, NY in around 1994 and that Dr Ginsberg had had the wire wheels chromed. Dr Ginsberg presumably sold the XK at the Christie's Tarrytown auction in 1996. Who to? Bruce E. Desoe? Dr Ginsberg appears to have died in 2006.

2013-01-01 10:42:59 | John Starkey writes:

Very nice car, good driver. Unrestored but well maintained.

2013-03-01 14:56:02 | John Starkey writes:

Just spoken to Harold Ginsberg, son of Dr Irwin Ginsberg, previous owner who passed away in 2007. Harold remembers that his father bought the 120 from a lawyer in New York in 1985, and that had been the first owner, since 1953. This doesn't tie in with Mr Charles Gambill's recollections but does fit the facts that this seems to be a very original, (just one repaint only), XK120. Harold also remembers convincing his father that the two of them should drive the XK in the 1992 Californian Mille, which it did with no problems whatsoever.

2013-03-02 14:15:00 | John Starkey writes:

I spoke gain with Charles Gimball of Hinsdale, Illinois and he confirmed that he had shipped the car to Irwin Ginsberg in 1985, so I called Charles Gimball again.

What I did discover from Charles this time was the name of the man he bought it from, a well known Ferrari collector named Tom Caulfield. I spoke to him and he confirmed that he bought it from John Doman of Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1972. I'll try and find him next. Tom even remembered that Mr Doman had bought it from the airport manager of Rock County airport in Janesville in around 1967! Tom also reported that the car was "very tired" when he got it but that he carried out a complete mechanical rebuild of the engine, gearbox and back axle and that "it was an MC and was pretty quick when we finished with it". He also had the car repainted.

My aim is to trace the entire ownership history back to when the car was new in 1953.

2013-03-07 16:06:35 | Anonymous writes:

I found and spoke with John Doman, now in Wichita, Kansas. He has photos which he is sending, said the car was, in 1970, pale metallic blue with painted wire wheels.

He bought the car from Tom Caulfield, ran it for a year and sold it back to him.

2013-03-08 07:54:31 | Anonymous writes:

John Doman sent photos of S673482, as he'd just bought it, probably 1969/70. He now thinks that he bought it from someone in Janesville but not Tom Caulfield. John sold it to Caulfield about a year later.

2013-11-12 10:54:06 | John Starkey writes:

Looking for previous owners to 1970, think in Janesville, WI.

2014-04-04 21:48:31 | pauls writes:

John has written a very nice article about his car in the April 2014 edition of the XK Gazette.

2015-01-03 10:54:18 | John Starkey writes:

January 3rd, 2014.

XK is going very well! I've had a 5-speed Tremec gearbox installed, (big improvement, particularly when cruising on the Freeway), i inch smaller diameter steering wheel of original pattern, (gives more room in the cockpit), disc brakes at the front, (stops straight now), XK competition seats installed, (again, more room in the cockpit), 2 inch SUs added, (more poke), and the cockpit heat insulated. I've ordered painted wire wheels for her and a new set of spinners. I suspect spinners fitted are probably the originals! Great, very enjoyable to drive car now.

2019-02-02 12:44:57 | pauls writes:

Car now offered at:

www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/jaguar/xk-120se/2224619.html

Seller's description:

Location: S. Pasadena, Florida, 33707

VIN #: S673482

Transmission: Manual

Condition: Excellent

Exterior: Battleship Gray

Interior: Red leather

1953 Jaguar XK-120SE Roadster, This is a rare XK120SE, with the uprated engine of 180 HP. There were just over 700 built in 1953 so not that many will be left now. It is a superb driver and gets more admiring attention than any car I've owned, and I've had a few good ones, believe me!

This XK has been modified to assist driving in today's traffic. It has an aluminum radiator, electronic ignition, competition seats, (which give an extra 3 inches of needed legroom), one inch smaller diameter steering wheel, one inch wider competition painted wire wheels, front disc brakes, 5 speed "Tremec" gearbox, and it's just had a service and new stainless steel exhaust sytem fitted. It still has it's top and new side curtains with it. The suspension and shocks were rebuilt 10,000 miles ago.

You won't find a better XK to use anywhere, period.All the original parts that have been replaced come the car. $95,000 or I might be interested in swapping with a good series 1 E Type FHC. Price: $95,000

2020-01-10 09:20:39 | John Starkey writes:

Had a couple of decent offers but decided that I like her too much to sell. I'll never get a better one!

2022-05-23 09:19:32 | pauls writes:

Car now on BAT

bringatrailer.com/listing/1953-jaguar-xk120-roadster-25/_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2022-05-23

Auction description:

Seller: Match84G

Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida 33707

Listing Details

Chassis: S673482

30k Miles Shown, TMU

3.4-Liter Inline-Six

Twin SU Carburetors

Tremec 5-Speed Manual Transmission

Grey Paint

Red Upholstery

Body-Color Wire Wheels

Front Disc Brakes

Aluminum Radiator

Tan Soft Top and Side Curtains

Fixed-Back Bucket Seats

Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate

Tool Kit

Removed Parts Included

Private Party or Dealer: Private Party

Lot #74753

This 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster was manufactured on January 21, 1953, distributed in the US through Max Hoffman Motors of New York City, and acquired by the seller in 2012. It is finished in grey over a red interior and is powered by a numbers-matching 3.4-liter inline-six mated to a Tremec five-speed manual transmission. Additional equipment includes an aluminum radiator, a high-torque starter, front disc brakes, body-color 16” wire wheels, a tan soft top and side curtains, front fog lamps, and fixed-back bucket seats. This XK120 is now offered with a tool kit, partial service records, a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, removed parts, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.

Finished from the factory in Battleship Grey, the car was repainted during the late 1980s and is fitted with a tan soft top and removable side curtains. Exterior details include split chrome front bumpers, Lucas-style front fog lamps, dual side mirrors, and a split windshield. The hood was replaced during previous ownership.

Body-color 16” wire wheels are one-inch wider than standard and wear replacement two-eared spinners and are mounted with 205/65 Kumho Solus KR21 tires. Front disc brakes have been installed. The brake master cylinder was replaced in December 2020.

The cabin houses fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in red upholstery along with matching door panels and carpeting. A fire extinguisher is found behind the seats and additional appointments include map pockets in both doors, lap belts, a passenger grab handle, a smaller four-spoke steering wheel, and black rubber floor mats. The brake and clutch pedals are said to have been shortened in 2014.

Smiths instrumentation consists of a reverse-sweep 6k-rpm tachometer with an inset clock, a 140-mph speedometer, and gauges for amperage, oil pressure, water temperature, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 30k miles, approximately 10k of which were added by the seller. Total mileage is unknown.

The 3.4-liter inline-six features dual SU carburetors, a high-torque starter, an aluminum radiator, MSD ignition wires, and an aftermarket alternator. Higher-compression pistons and C-type camshafts are said to have been installed during the 1980s. An oil change was performed in October 2021.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Tremec five-speed manual transmission that was installed in 2014. A stainless-steel exhaust system was fitted in 2020.

The Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate lists the original completion date, serial numbers, and colors.

2022-05-30 19:06:48 | Captain RD writes:

Sold for $95,000 on 5/29/22

Car on BAT