It took 6,725 hours to restore this 1954 Jaguar - and it's so rare experts won't speculate on its value

  • <p>The gleaming, fully restored 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE is shown off in the studio after its pain-staking nuts and bolts restoration. </p>
    1/10

    Restored Jaguar

    The gleaming, fully restored 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE is shown off in the studio after its pain-staking nuts and bolts restoration.

  • <p>Classic Motor Cars Limited bought the Jaguar from a German collector in 2015. He had purchased it in the US in 1978 with the intention of restoring but never got round to it. </p>
    2/10

    Restored Jaguar

    Classic Motor Cars Limited bought the Jaguar from a German collector in 2015. He had purchased it in the US in 1978 with the intention of restoring but never got round to it.

  • <p>The Jaguar was in pretty poor shape, as can be seen by the tired and rather battered seats. </p>
    3/10

    Restored Jaguar

    The Jaguar was in pretty poor shape, as can be seen by the tired and rather battered seats.

  • <p>The team of specialists faced a number of challenges during the restoration, from finding the original paint colour to remaking the bumpers and rear window screen. </p>
    4/10

    Restored Jaguar

    The team of specialists faced a number of challenges during the restoration, from finding the original paint colour to remaking the bumpers and rear window screen.

  • <p>During the pre-restoration inspection it was found that Pininfarina had used the original XK body as a basis, and that, at some point in its life, the car was painted burgundy and had the seats covered with tan leather. </p>
    5/10

    Restored Jaguar

    During the pre-restoration inspection it was found that Pininfarina had used the original XK body as a basis, and that, at some point in its life, the car was painted burgundy and had the seats covered with tan leather.

  • <p>David Barzilay, chairman of CMC’s operating board, said: “Some of the original parts were impossible to find so we had to remake items such as the bumpers and chrome work by hand from photographs.” </p>
    6/10

    Restored Jaguar

    David Barzilay, chairman of CMC’s operating board, said: “Some of the original parts were impossible to find so we had to remake items such as the bumpers and chrome work by hand from photographs.”

  • <p>“We had to scan the front and rear end of the car and make mock ups of the lights, which were then scanned and 3D printed. Smaller missing parts were also 3D printed in-house,” added Barzilay. </p>
    7/10

    Restored Jaguar

    “We had to scan the front and rear end of the car and make mock ups of the lights, which were then scanned and 3D printed. Smaller missing parts were also 3D printed in-house,” added Barzilay.

  • <p>The interior trim door cards were missing, along with the carpets and the original colour of the trim, but a small sample of original ochre tan leather was discovered when the car was stripped down. This was colour matched and the original type and colour leather was used to recreate the interior. </p>
    8/10

    Restored Jaguar

    The interior trim door cards were missing, along with the carpets and the original colour of the trim, but a small sample of original ochre tan leather was discovered when the car was stripped down. This was colour matched and the original type and colour leather was used to recreate the interior.

  • <p>Barzilay said: “There were no signs of the original paint colour and it all came down to the last nut and bolt. When the front screen was removed, we discovered a small section of original paint and used it as a colour match.” </p>
    9/10

    Restored Jaguar

    Barzilay said: “There were no signs of the original paint colour and it all came down to the last nut and bolt. When the front screen was removed, we discovered a small section of original paint and used it as a colour match.”

  • <p>Restored to its former glory. Barzilay said there was little trace of the car’s history, save for the fact is was first purchased in 1954 by an Austrian car dealer. This XK120 features unique bodywork by famed Italian coachbuilder and design house Pininfarina, the only XK120 it made, making this one of the rarest Jaguars in existence. (All pictures: Classic Motor Cars) </p>
    10/10

    Restored Jaguar

    Restored to its former glory. Barzilay said there was little trace of the car’s history, save for the fact is was first purchased in 1954 by an Austrian car dealer. This XK120 features unique bodywork by famed Italian coachbuilder and design house Pininfarina, the only XK120 it made, making this one of the rarest Jaguars in existence. (All pictures: Classic Motor Cars)

<p>The gleaming, fully restored 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE is shown off in the studio after its pain-staking nuts and bolts restoration. </p>
<p>Classic Motor Cars Limited bought the Jaguar from a German collector in 2015. He had purchased it in the US in 1978 with the intention of restoring but never got round to it. </p>
<p>The Jaguar was in pretty poor shape, as can be seen by the tired and rather battered seats. </p>
<p>The team of specialists faced a number of challenges during the restoration, from finding the original paint colour to remaking the bumpers and rear window screen. </p>
<p>During the pre-restoration inspection it was found that Pininfarina had used the original XK body as a basis, and that, at some point in its life, the car was painted burgundy and had the seats covered with tan leather. </p>
<p>David Barzilay, chairman of CMC’s operating board, said: “Some of the original parts were impossible to find so we had to remake items such as the bumpers and chrome work by hand from photographs.” </p>
<p>“We had to scan the front and rear end of the car and make mock ups of the lights, which were then scanned and 3D printed. Smaller missing parts were also 3D printed in-house,” added Barzilay. </p>
<p>The interior trim door cards were missing, along with the carpets and the original colour of the trim, but a small sample of original ochre tan leather was discovered when the car was stripped down. This was colour matched and the original type and colour leather was used to recreate the interior. </p>
<p>Barzilay said: “There were no signs of the original paint colour and it all came down to the last nut and bolt. When the front screen was removed, we discovered a small section of original paint and used it as a colour match.” </p>
<p>Restored to its former glory. Barzilay said there was little trace of the car’s history, save for the fact is was first purchased in 1954 by an Austrian car dealer. This XK120 features unique bodywork by famed Italian coachbuilder and design house Pininfarina, the only XK120 it made, making this one of the rarest Jaguars in existence. (All pictures: Classic Motor Cars) </p>
Mark Dorman

Here’s a story of a real labour of love. After some 6,725 hours of painstaking work, this ultra-rare 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE by Italian design house Pininfarina has finally been unveiled.

The near three-year restoration project, undertaken by British specialists Classic Motor Cars Ltd, involved literally stripping the car down to the last nut and bolt to colour match bodywork paint and interior leather.

It was unveiled this week at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, in front of a crowd of collectors and motoring aficionados. Such is its rarity, experts have not put a price on the XK120.