1950 Jaguar XK120 Competition Roadster

History

This original right hand drive UK delivered ‘home market specification’ XK120 Roadster was manufactured on 1^st December 1950 and supplied via distributor Henlys Ltd to dealer ‘Watford Motor Company’

Sold new to first owner and racer Duncan.T.Russell, finished in Silver coachwork with Duo-Blue trim and registered with its distinctive number ‘MNK 120’, this early steel bodied example began its competition career in June 1951 with its first outing at Silverstone for the ‘Eight Clubs’ race meeting, held on the second day of the month. Just two weeks later on June 16^th ‘Minky’ was entered into the BARC Members Meeting at Goodwood    

Russell then entered the BARC Eastbourne Rally on 30^th June, achieving a first in class award and was back on track on August 11^th for the MG Car Club race at Silverstone where he finished a credible 4^th place

Later that month Russell returned to Goodwood for the BARC Members Meeting and then on the first of September he finished 3^rd at Silverstone in the ‘SUNBAC’ handicap race

For the 1952 season ‘Minky’ was re-painted in non-metallic ‘Mediterranean Blue’ after its original metallic Silver paint had started to fade in places, a common issue with early metallic paints of the period. Russell began at Goodwood for the ‘Easter International Meeting’ where he finished 5^th behind racing ace Stirling Moss (Handicap race) Russell returned to Goodwood on 17^th May for the BARC Members meeting, scoring a seventh place finish in the sports car race

One month later in late June, Russell entered ‘Minky’ at the sports car race at Boreham organised by the West Essex Car Club, finishing sixth place. The next outing was at Snetterton for the sports car race organised by the Eastern Counties Motor Club where Russell drove a great race and finished second

‘Minky’ returned with Russell to Goodwood on 26^th July for the BARC Members Meeting, scoring a sixth place finish in the sports car race and seventh in the handicap race. Russell then entered a further two events in August of that year, the Boreham ‘Festival of Motorsport’ and the ‘750 MC 6 Hour Relay’ at Silverstone

September 1952 proved a busy month and Russell started with a win at the Silverstone ‘SUNBAC’ event on the 6^th August in the ‘MG and Jaguar Race’. Russell achieved fourth fastest XK120 at Prescott on the 14^th August for the ‘International Speed Hill Climb’ event and came 2^nd at Silverstone on 20^th September at the ‘Peterborough Motor Club’ organised ‘XK120 Race’.

The final event of the season was at Goodwood for the ‘International Meeting’ where Russell finished twelfth in the sports car race and led the handicap race until the last lap before retiring moments before the finish. Following the race at Goodwood, ‘Minky’ was retired from competitive duty and led a more relaxed life in the hands of subsequent private owners, documented on the buff log book (held on file)

Mr William Ian Hodgson is listed as the owner on 2^nd March 1964 (by which time the XK had been painted in White) followed by Robert.B.Ropner of Yorkshire on 28^th July 1966. The Ropner family had a long-standing association with sportscars and competition events and the family name is often seen listed as active participants in various events throughout the period

The next known owner was Kathleen Dodds of Northallerton on 29^th June 1971. According to the log book she didn’t keep ‘Minky’ for long and by October of that year the XK was sold to Mr Geoffrey Charlton of Yorkshire who retained the Jaguar until c2009!

Time had taken its toll on the XK and pictures on file show ‘Minky’ in her unrestored state at the end of the Charlton family ownership, prior to a major restoration by marque exponents JD Classics. Discovered in remarkably original and unmolested condition, a comprehensive and lengthy restoration programme was commissioned, with the aim to return ‘Minky’ to the configuration which it ran at the last Goodwood event in 1952, adorned with the number ‘92’

Offered today in exceptional condition and ready to race, show and/or tour, this significant period competition XK120 has a superb history which is extremely well documented with a plethora of period racing images, copies of race programmes and Motorsport magazine entries

Without doubt one of the most eligible historic sportscars extant, ‘Minky’ is a welcome entry for all the major historic events including Goodwood, Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic and any major concours event, such is the quality of its provenance and exacting restoration