Pebble Beach success continues for JD Classics

JD Classics’ in-house restored ‘Jabbeke’ Jaguar XK120 takes ‘Post-War Racing’ Best in Class at The Quail, A Motorsports GatheringIn-house prepared Costin Lister Jaguar wins Rolex Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion raceJD Classics ‘JWK’ wins prestigious Pebble Beach Phil Hill Best Sportscar Trophy and Pebble Beach Concours Post-War Sportscars 2nd in ClassMaldon, 3 September 2013: Building on its success at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with the ex-Clark Gable Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster, JD Classics made a fantastic and memorable return to the leading Quail concours event on Sunday 18 August 2013.

The JD Classics in-house restoration of the ‘Jabbeke’ Jaguar XK120, registered MDU 524 and famed for its 1953 World Record for the Flying Mile with a speed of 172.412mph on Belgium’s Jabbeke Motorway, took the prestigious ‘Post-War Racing’ Best in Class at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.

Following its land speed record success in 1953, Jaguar sold the car and it was subsequently used in club racing events, resulting in it losing some of its aerodynamic modifications.

JD Classics began the Jabekke XK120 restoration on behalf of its American owner in 2011, ‘MDU’ made its post-restoration debut at Quail as part of the annual Monterey Automobile Week.

Taking place in the run up to the week’s prestigious finale at Pebble Beach’s Concours d’Elegance, the sell-out ‘The Quail’ has remained a ‘must attend’ event for every motoring enthusiast. Celebrating the achievements of both two and four wheeled vehicles, the event’s festivities took place within the luxurious grounds of The Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel Valley as this year’s edition celebrated anniversaries of some of the World’s premier marques and models.

Built in 1952, the XK120 ‘MDU 524’ started life as an original Jaguar Works Competition car and went on to compete in the challenging terrain of the Rallye International des Alpes as its first competitive outing.

However, this XK120’s real rite of passage came under the command of Jaguar’s then test and development driver, Norman Dewis who drove the car to a Land Speed World Record at a speed of 140.789mph at the Jabbeke Highway, Belgium in 1953.

By April of that year, ‘MDU’ had lost the title to a V8-engined Pegaso which was timed at just over 150 mph. Eager to reclaim the land speed title, Jaguar set about modifying ‘MDU’ in order to improve its aerodynamics and streamline the car to improve its maximum speed.

The most notable of these changes was the Perspex bubble which would go over Norman’s head during the second attempt. Upon their return to Jabbeke in the latter part of the year, the performance of both the XK120 and Norman fast surpassed any expectations as the car achieved an incredible top speed of 173.159mph and reclaimed the World Record for the Flying Mile with a speed of 172.412mph.

‘MDU’ underwent an 18-month restoration by JD Classics’ team of in-house specialist technicians, returned to its original land speed record specification in preparation for this year’s Monterey Automotive Week. This included an accurate reproduction of all the car’s period aerodynamic aids, most notably the Perspex bubble, full-length alloy under trays and forced carburettor air induction system.

Now 93 years old, Norman Dewis accompanied the JD Classics prepared XK120 to Monterey for its post-restoration unveiling, and together with its period record breaking driver, caused a real stir amongst the vast array of classic and period race cars on display.

Within a sizeable field of spectacular Ferrari, Shelby and Aston Martin vintage examples to name a few, this unique Jaguar XK120 did the British marque proud as it was awarded the prestigious Best of Class accolade within the Post-War Racing Cars class.

The famed driver of the Jabbeke land speed record XK120 and Jaguar legend Norman Dewis commented: “It is tremendous that this important Jaguar has been recognised with this prestigious award, and JD Classics have done an amazing job in restoring the car to its original and unique aerodynamic specification.”

In addition to its seminal class win at The Quail, JD Classics also took another Jaguar XK award with second place overall in the Phil Hill Best Sportscar Trophy with ‘JWK 651’, the celebrated ex-Leslie Johnson works car.

JD Classics also achieved victory on the track at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circuit in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion racewith its in-house prepared Costin Lister Jaguar.

Derek Hood, Managing Director, commented: “I’m delighted that for the second year in a row at Pebble Beach we have come away with concours awards and a race win. We are now focussing on the Goodwood Revival, which is one of our favourite events of the year, where we will be competing with a Lister ‘Knobbly’, a Ford GT40 and a Jaguar C-type.”

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