Richard G;
Congratulations, You could not have gotten a better model nor
year of Jaguar… (I also have a '53 120 DHC).
Like yourself, I am also involved in a total ground up
restoration, and have been for twenty-seven years…
During this time, I have come to be intimately knowledgable
about certain aspects of the DHC… Example… One would assume the
“coachbuilt framing” of the Jaguar boot lid and doors would be a hardwood
like Ash… It is not… It IS, however, Mahogany… Unfortunately it is a
very inferior grade of mahogany. Equally as unfortunate is the fact that
pre-cut replacement wood pieces for the DHC are just as inferior… You
would be better served by getting a quality, tight-grain Mahogany from your
local lumber supplier, to use on your DHC.
If you are familiar with and versed in the use of “Cabinet Making” and
“Timber Framing” methods and wood tools, you should have no problem making
superior copies of any wood pieces used on the DHC except, in my opinion,
for two… The forwardmost wood bows on the DHC’s Hood Frame (two pieces)
and the “main lateral beams” used in each door (two pieces), These pieces
have very complex curves and need to be made out of “glued-up” stock to
prevent the original “built-in” splitting along the grain. Once you
actually see the actual pieces, you will know what I mean.
Another other “plus” to you fashioning your own wood frame pieces,
verses buying “over-the-counter” pieces is the fact that each door and boot
lid was “custom fitted” to the openings of the particular body… You can
replace an entire door, as an example, but you will find that is doesn’t
“fit” quite right. Additionally, the boot lids had a gawd-awful fit from
the factory and the “gap” between the lid and body was “corrected” by
placing a sheet-metal “protective dam”, formed around the boot lid and
lead-loading the opening at the body to achieve that “perfect fit” look.
Lastly, shortly after I joined the J-L XK-List, I created a “list” of
120 DHC “Survivors”… to date I have confirmed nearly three hundred of the
seventeen hundred plus 120 DHC’s originally built.
In addition to welcoming you to the XK-List, and to further add to my
“DHC List”, I would like to request your DHC’s “Numbers”… Those found on
the Commission Plate (data tag) on the firewall… this would be the Chassis,
Engine, Body and Gearbox numbers.
I would also like the Production Date (if known) “Titled Year”
(generally applies to USA cars), and “changes” to the original numbered
parts (i.e. A different head now fitted) and the “number” of the replacement
item (if you wish it to be included). I also list your Name, E-Mail
address, City and State (Country).
I DO NOT want any personal information like home address, home or
work phone numbers, etc.
My “DHC List” is NOT for any commercial use! I have also put DHC
Owners, who have close Chassis Numbers, in contact with each other so they
might share any unique details about the production of their particular
Jaguar… I’ve had much correspondence with two DHC owners whose Jaguars are
twenty Chassis numbers on either side on mine.
A fellow countryman of yours and member of the XK-List, John
Elmgreen, is the XK-List’s “Keeper of Numbers” for ALL XK’s, so I share my
“numbers” with him for use in his research. John E’s research includes the
history of previous owners, racing, general use, etc.
Again, Welcome to the XK Loonie Bin… Ya gotta be nuts to own an XK
Jaguar, Right? ;-}
Charles #677556.
This is my first post to the list, so hope it all works. I have recently
aquired a '53 XK120 DHC, and I am now in the process of a full ground up
restoration. Having started on the body work, I have come to the
conclusion
that the wooden frame ( i think it is ash) of the bootlid will need
replacing( the current one is badly damaged). Is there anywhere I can
source
a pre-fabricated bootlid frame, or even a pre-made kit that I can
assemble.----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Glass
My other option is to build my own, but fear may be more difficult and of
inferior quality.
Would appreciate any information or advice.