Similar but not a copy

Thornley Kelham first announced the XK120 restomod, known as the XK European, in 2022. They spent around 2000 hours building it and it is now fully ready.

Interestingly, this is only the first of the planned copies. In general The company plans to build 25 such cars, selling them for $725,000 eachThe cost of the donor car is not included. The time required for each subsequent car is unknown as each will be unique and the effort will depend on the condition of the original car.

• For his first example, Thornley Kelham built a new body from scratch using lighter alloys than the original.
• There have been changes to the dimensions too; these are subtle but give the XK120 a wider, more bulbous appearance.
• The roof became a little lower – about 6-7 centimeters.
• The long cuts in the front have turned into round cuts.

Restomod XK120 body next to the original model / Photo: Thonley Kelham

The powertrain and chassis have also been overhauled to improve performance. The XK’s 3.8-litre inline-6 ​​engine will now produce either 300 or 340 horsepower depending on trim, up from the 160-220 horsepower originally put out by the engine fitted to the original XK120.

• Some of the upgrades include a new camshaft, cylinders, and direct fuel injection system.
• The chassis suspension has been retuned and features double wishbones as well as Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs. The wheels are 16 inches and feature modern disc brakes.
• Another modern safety feature is LED headlights that provide better visibility at night.

Restomod Jaguar XK120 before painting / Photo: Thonley Kelham

Thornley Kelham fitted a concealed roll cage inside and covered most of the surfaces in Connolly leather. Special bucket seats are fitted, which can be fitted with four-point seat belts as a no-cost option.

Modern touches include air conditioning, power windows, power steering, a wireless phone charger and an infotainment system. The gauges are original but the interior mechanics have been updated.

Restomod Jaguar XK120 interior / Photo: Thonley Kelham

Restomod Jaguar XK120 interior / Photo: Thonley Kelham

The company doesn’t say where it takes its old cars for repairs, but says anyone with one is welcome to contact it to make a bid. Thornley Kelham also prefers to use “rust bucket” samples rather than ones in relatively good condition.

Restomod Jaguar XK120 / Photo: Thonley Kelham

Restomod Jaguar XK120 / Photo: Thonley Kelham

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