1950 Jaguar XK120 Custom Coupe

[BERNARD "HOT ROD" KRON]

Mildly Customized 1950 Jaguar XK120 Coupe
(More photos below)

This is a mildly customized Bburago die-cast Jaguar XK120 coupe. I wanted to simplify and clean up the details, much as custom shops would do in the early 50’s for clients who wanted a cleaner, more streamlined look to their cars. Clark Gable was a big Jaguar enthusiast and George Barris actually customized the third of the three XK120 roadsters he owned (he actually owned the 1st XK120 to be imported into the US). Barris smoothed the rear deck, gave it a custom metallic gold paint job and equipped it with a Carson Top. In my case I lowered the car 4 scale inches all around, made factory style flush fitting fender skirts (the Bburago. which comes with very funky wire wheels, has open rear wheel wells), shaved the hood and front fenders, smoothed the rear deck by removing the rectangular license plate plinth, sank the license plate into the rear deck and substituted tear drop taillights for the big chrome factory lights. The terrible Bburago wheels and modern wide tires were replaced at the front with Borrani wire wheels from an Academy Ferrari 250LM with AMT Firestone blackwalls adapted to fit. The stock Bburago rear wheels and tires are buried under the skirts. The bumpers were deleted and the mounting holes filled and fog lights installed. The paint is Tamiya TS-11 Maroon over red oxide primer.

Thanx for lookin’,
B.