Owen Automotive Canada

XK120 Restoration

In a world captivated by the swift pace of digital progress and cutting-edge technology that reigns supreme, there exists a realm that preserves the magnificence of a bygone era.

Owen Automotive is proud to announce the restoration of 1952 Jaguar XK120 chassis 679514 from the collection of Micheal Woodward in North Saanich BC Canada. Key partners are Jetstream Custom Auto, Electroshine Metal Finishing and Rightway Heritage Trimming.

679514 is of the first type of XK120 FHC produced at the Foleshill factory in it’s original hue of Opalescent (metallic) bronze with biscuit interior. It retains the matching engine W4520-8, body J1517, gearbox, JL9875, starter, generator and william mills-founded cylinder head.

As a type produced at the Foleshill factory, this iconic XK would have been among the few painted in 8 coats of nitro cellulose lacquer before the shift to deep-base enamel paint that came in late 1952 at the Browns Lane factory. As such, Sean at Jetstream has recreated a pearlescent hue reminiscent of this color that was only offered on the early Foleshill factory xk120s.

A quirk of the restoration was the inside panels which were all painted black at Foleshill to keep production costs down. Also a nickel shortage in 1952 meant that the rear taillight housings were painted bodycolor in lieu of chrome. These details are all reflected in the famous LWK707 Montlhéry record breaking XK120 owned by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the exact same color scheme.