When you do something for yourself, you tend to do it better than required. Part of it is that you don't want to do it twice, but perhaps a bigger part is that if you're doing it for yourself, you want it to be better than everyone else's. There's pride involved, and that's certainly the case with this stunning 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE roadster. In fact, this car exists because one of the very best Jaguar shops in the nation, Couper's Classic Cars in Vermont, had a supercharged 3.8 liter Jaguar engine sitting on a stand looking for a home. They found a tired but fairly solid XK120 roadster and gave it a show-quality frame-off restoration, then dropped that beautiful supercharged six into the engine bay. The result is a car that has stunning good looks, impeccable road manners, and a lot more power than you've ever experienced in an early XK. Sure, they're plenty quick in stock form, but this Signal Red roadster is something else entirely!

If you're a Jaguar aficionado, you've probably heard of Couper's, one of the best Jag shops in New England, and they're responsible for this car's amazing restoration. We have restoration photos that show this car coming together from start to finish, and no stone was left unturned. Yes, there was some sheetmetal replacement, most notably the battery tray and the rockers, but the photos show proper repairs using parts that Couper's fabricated in-house for an exact fit. If you're the kind of guy who insists on 100% original sheetmetal, well, you're probably going to end up with an inferior car because this one fits together better than anything coming out of Coventry in the 1950s. The car was stripped to bare metal and rebuilt from there and the exacting gaps, beautiful, smooth panels, and spectacular Signal Red paint all reflect a spare-no-expense restoration to the very highest standards. We'll spare you prose about the beauty of these cars, because it's really self-evident, and instead focus on the quality of the work. Note how well the hood fits, the way the vents ahead of the doors sit flush, and the way the trunk lid extends to the edges of the body, but no further. Everything is quite correctly done and likely better than new. All the chrome was restored, including the bumpers, grille, and windshield frame, and it carries a correct set of Lucas tri-bar headlights and accessory driving lights up front.

The interior was equally well restored using correct materials and patterns throughout. That's glove-soft Connolley leather from Bartlett's and plush Wilton wool carpets are on the floor. The British called it "Biscuit" which I suppose is an apt description, and it's simply beautiful against the bright red bodywork. As an open two seater, the leather wraps around the upper edges of the cockpit, giving it a finished look, and the split bench seat provides all-day comfort for long-distance jaunts at high speed. The big steering wheel provides plenty of leverage on the front wheels, so guiding this XK takes only your fingertips, and the lovely horn button remains in place, always upright, even when you're turning the wheel. The handsome Smiths gauges are fully operational and crisply restored, including the reverse-rotation tachometer and multi-function gas and oil level gauge that notes "Use switch for oil reading." Lights, horn, turn signals, and heater are all fully operational and we're willing to believe that the 46,412 miles shown are since 1953. The delicate little shifter for the 4-speed manual transmission snaps through the gears, although you don't want to rush it when it's cold or else you'll get a little gear clash. Seat belts, floor mats, and a fire extinguisher have been added in the name of safety and for touring comfort, this car includes both a black canvas convertible top and a matching tonneau cover for the cockpit. The boot (trunk) is outfitted correctly with a correct spare tire, tool roll, knock-off hammer, jack assembly, and even the original tire pump.

The chassis number starting with the letter "S" indicates that this car was originally a "Special Eqiupment" or "SE" car, and it does indeed carry its original matching-numbers cylinder head. However, to handle the rigors of the supercharger, a later 3.8 liter block and rotating assembly were used underneath and I think you'll agree that the performance advantage more than makes up for any demerits in the pedigree department. The engine was, of course, fully rebuilt and one of our favorite things to do is to ask visitors to our shop to look at the engine in this car and find what's different. Most of them don't see the supercharger tucked down low on the passenger's side of the block. In fact, at a glance it looks quite authentic, although real Jag enthusiasts will spot that the carburetors have been slightly relocated rearward. The show-quality engine bay is a symphony of polished aluminum and black enamel, and the fittings used throughout are quite correct, from the twin SU carburetors to the radiator hoses to the fresh cloth-wrapped wiring harness. It has very little use on it since it was completed, as evidenced by the beautiful porcelainized exhaust manifolds that show zero cracking or cloudiness that are the inevitable by-product of heat. The supercharger itself is identical to those that the Granatelli Brothers created for these Jaguars when they were new, a shaft-driven unit that inhales through the original carburetors and exhales through a gorgeous polished aluminum casting bolted to the block. It produces perhaps 5 pounds of boost, not a lot, but enough to create an incredible torque curve that totally transforms the XK120's personality.

Driving it is no different than any other Jaguar. There's a switch under the dash that needs to be in the starting position to enrich the carbs enough to fire the engine and warm it up, but once it's fully up to temperature, switch it to the operating position and the car behaves just like any other Jag. It's content to idle at about 900 RPM with a pleasing mechanical sound and it's worth noting that the blower is completely silent, so you won't be giving anything away. Throttle response is crisp and at low speeds, the car is perfectly happy to idle in third or fourth gear without bucking. However, when you lean on it a bit, you'll feel that inevitable swell of torque at about 2500 RPM and hear a gentle wooshing sound from up front, and suddenly the XK120 is ratcheting the speedometer needle around the gauge face in 10 MPH increments. We would estimate about 330 horsepower on tap, all of them very civilized, and giving this lovely Jag the performance to startle a lot of newer, more powerful hardware. It's extraordinary.

Fortunately, the chassis doesn't seem to mind the added performance one bit. It feels supple but buttoned-down, the way only Jaguar engineers seem to have mastered, and there's not a single squeak, rattle, or shake from the chassis or body structure, making this car feel expensive but not fragile. The original 4-speed 'JL' gearbox is connected via a fresh clutch and original carbon bearing, so be sure to start it in neutral with your foot off the clutch—it spins faster. The frame was stripped bare and refinished using tough satin black paint for a correct look and both the suspension and the brakes were fully rebuilt, so you can drive it with confidence. A custom dual exhaust system was fabricated in stainless steel and has a fantastic note from the twin pipes out back, especially when under boost at, say, 3500-4000 RPM. You've never heard anything like it. Some strategic heat shielding keeps the interior nice and comfortable on warm days. Sparkling chrome wire wheels are really the only choice on an XK120 like this, and they carry recent 6.00-16 wide whitewall tires for a period-correct look.

This is a spectacular car in every way. The restoration was finished to the very highest standards and the mechanical condition of the car permits it to be used immediately and often. The supercharger adds a tangible boost in performance that will make you smile every time you squeeze the throttle, yet it is no more difficult to own and maintain than a standard XK. We've sold a number of these cars and none of them performed like this one, and the extraordinary road manners make it all the more remarkable. And honestly, there's just nothing as fun as opening the hood and letting people get a look at the gleaming polished aluminum motor and hearing their exclamations of joy as they spot the supercharger. If you want garage art, there are cheaper XKs to be had. But if you are a driver, a true enthusiast in the strictest sense of the word, then you will no doubt appreciate the way this car drives more than any other aspect of ownership. Call today!