Cars Expert Wanted -- Post WW2 (1945-48)

I am...

nearly sure that Jaguar would have made a dashboard switch for an American order.

I know Jaguar did special things to order, my father's cars were never the standard model.

JohnnyGottaKeyboard said:

Anyone here in Historicals an expert on sportscars from the immediate postwar era? Specifically I am wondering about the 48 Jaguar. Could an American get that car with the steering on the left or was that not done back then?

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An American certainly could:

The XK120 was first launched as a 'Roadster' (or OTS for 'open two-seater' in America) and then the Fixed-Head Coupé (FHC) followed in 1951 and lastly the Drop-Head Coupé (DHC) was introduced in 1953. The DHC was a deluxe open model with wind-up windows + opening quarter lights, Wood-veneered Dashboard and Door cappings. It is the rarest variant amongst the XK120 models with only 1,767 produced and of these 1,472 were LHD and mostly destined for the USA + 295 RHD models.

From http://www.collectioncar.com/detailed.php?ad=23803&category_id=1

I'd probably turn over to the Alfa Romeo just for the style

I own an XK120 if you have any questions about them. Mine is a FHC, though, not an OTS. It is definitely worth nothing that the first 120s weren't built until late in 1948, so if you have it appearing before then it simply wouldn't have been possible to get one. It was definitely possible to get a LHD car, though - the second one built was LHD. Do keep in mind that the London Motor Show at which the XK120 was premiered and caused such a sensation was October 27- November 6. No one had seen the 120 before then. So...to make this convincing, your MC would have to have a close relationship with Lyons in order to have seen the car in advance of that, much less purchased one.

Let me know if you have any questions - I know a lot about the early Jags!

Oh, also - Clark Gable was one of the first Americans to buy an XK120, and he got his in 1949.

You should! And use the coupe! Unless of course the character you have driving one is very tall...I always joke that my car is a woman's car because I don't know how anyone more than a few inches taller than me could drive it. I certainly don't know how my Dad did it all those years - he always looked crunched up in there. The steering wheel isn't adjustable either.

Just for fun: