1951 | Jaguar XK 120 OTS

1951 Jaguar XK120 Period Competition Roadster LOB 908

- Period race history with Geoff Mansell, Robin Sturgess, and Graham Williams
- Mille Miglia with Andy Wallace and Sir Chris Hoy for Jaguar Heritage
- 3.4L competition engine, sand-cast carbs, drum brakes
- Eligible for race, rally, and other events
- FIA papers and CKL report

One of the select group of highly sought after XK120 period competition roadsters, from new LOB 908 enjoyed a decade of competition history into the early 1960s, today complemented by modern appearances in the Mille Miglia and other prestigious events.

With a December 1950 build date, LOB 908 was dispatched on New Year’s Day 1951, and delivered to first owner Geoff Mansell via distributor P.J. Evans of Birmingham. Chassis 660457 was a very early steel body roadster in Metallic Pastel Blue, notably without the footwell vents appearing in later models, and over the next ten years earned her place in competition history at circuits and hill climbs around England.

Experienced in trials and rallying, Midlands businessman and club racer Geoff Mansell had obtained the best production sports car then available in Britain. After a prototype famously reached 132.6 mph on the Jabbeke motorway in Belgium in 1949, XKs stormed through 1950 with a 1-2-3 victory in the Dundrod TT, also winning the Silverstone production car race and the Alpine Rally. From 1951-53, Mansell appeared at multiple events in LOB 908 at Shelsley Walsh, Castle Combe, Prescott and Silverstone, only parting with her to acquire the HWM racer XPA 748, incidentally also for sale with Fiskens!

Acquired by Leicestershire dealer racer Robin Sturgess in 1956 or so, she continued to race at venues including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Aintree and Shelsley Walsh. Chairman of Leicester-based Sturgess Motor Group, the late Robin Sturgess remains well-known in UK Jaguar circles notably for his exploits with competition E-Types registered 2 BBC. Repainted red in this ownership with a wraparound Perspex screen, she was campaigned until Sturgess acquired an ex-works C-Type from Mike Salmon.

LOB 908 was acquired in 1958 by Graham Williams of Risca Garages, Newport, Wales. Continuing to race through the early 60s, she appeared at Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Snetterton, Oulton Park and more, at many Bentley & Jaguar Drivers’ Club meetings. Williams bought and sold XKs and MK1s in the late 50s and early 60s racing under the Risca Garages banner. History records she accompanied Williams to London for his honeymoon, receiving a parking ticket on his wedding night!

Later spending some years in the French sun, she returned to the UK in 1999, regaining her rightful and correct LOB 908 registration. Notable modern history includes completing the 2013 Mille Miglia with racers Andy Wallace and Sir Chris Hoy. For this event she was prepared as part of the Jaguar official team with a full race/rally 3.4L engine and other competition upgrades – reappearing in the event the following year.

LOB 908 has been suitably prepared to FIA competition standard with HTP papers. With racing screens, roundels, steel wheels and a discreetly detachable roll hoop, with the road/rally engine she will also be delivered with the correctly numbered engine block matching the build sheet. Notable for potential owners of taller stature, she features an extended pedal box comfortably accommodating the 6’3” incumbent.

Accompanied by her history file which is full of period racing photographs and race programme copies, LOB 908 is well-documented in The Jaguar XK 120 in Competition, the authoritative history by Dr. James Fraser, himself a former owner of this very example_._

Offered in outstanding condition, this sought-after period competition roadster is suitable for race and rally events, and still more to be enjoyed on the open road.