1950 Jaguar

A significant historic competition XK120 raced in period by Duncan Hamilton.

Chassis 660332 was manufactured on 22nd November 1950 and delivered via Henlys of London to its first owner a Mr Philip Fotheringham-Parker a little over two weeks later. Registered LXF731 the car was originally suede green with matching interior.

Fotheringham-Parker was a typical amateur racing driver of the immediate pre- and post-war years combining sufficient levels of wealth, talent and enthusiasm to enjoy a respectable level of success in both national and international events. His first competition forays were with an Alvis at Brooklands where in 1932 he had the unpleasant experience of losing control in the wet and going over the top of the banking. Escaping this accident without serious injury he subsequently drove a Lancia Lambda and Ford V8 in other meetings at Brooklands and Donington Park. Unfortunately the outbreak of the Second World War interrupted his promising career and by the time racing had re-started he was already 38 years of age and considerably older than many up and coming drivers, including his friend Duncan Hamilton who was an ex-Lysander pilot and all round larger-than-life character. In spite of this Fotheringham-Parker continued to race and achieved some success with his pre-war Maserati including a second place in the Wakefield trophy at the Curragh in 1949.

With the successful competition debut of the XK120 at Silverstone in 1949, Fotheringham-Parker joined a growing list of drivers who were keen to acquire one for themselves. When he took delivery of LXF731 in late 1950 he promptly lent it to Hamilton who proceeded to race it at national and international events throughout 1951 and so began a very fruitful relationship between the Jaguar marque and Hamilton, culminating in victories with the works team at Le Mans in 1953 and Rheims in 1956.

The first recorded event for LXF731 was the 1 hour production car race at the Daily Express Silverstone Trophy Meeting held on May 5th 1951. With Hamilton at the wheel, LXF731 came home in third place behind Stirling Moss and Charles Dodson. The next outing at the Portuguese Grand Prix on June 17th was less successful with Hamilton retiring but he soon made amends by securing two victories in the XK120 at Boreham in the Williams Lyons Trophy race and the Unlimited race on August 11th. A week later Fotheringham-Parker himself would earn a brace of second places at Goodwood in the Sports Car and Handicap races at the BARC 7th Members meeting while Hamilton would complement this with two handicap second places of his own. At the September Goodwood International Meeting Fotheringham-Parker would finish a respectable fifth in the Sports Car race and third in the Handicap race against strong opposition in both events including Moss driving the new C-Type, chassis XKC001. An entry at Winfield in October wrapped up the 1951 season and with the arrival of Jaguar’s new sports racer both Hamilton and Fotheringham-Parker decided that a faster car was needed for 1952; consequently Hamilton upgraded to a C-type, driving XKC004, and Fotheringham-Parker moved on to drive an HWM-Alta. However this was not the end of LXF731’s competition career and the car was soon seen in action at the hands of C M Kemp on the RAC and Morecambe Rallies in the spring of 1952. It returned to Silverstone on August 30th where Kemp took part in the 750 MC Six Hour Relay race driving for the Sporting Owner Drivers Club team who finished fourth overall. His XK120 was the highest finisher beating those of more accomplished drivers such as Jim Swift and Denis O’M Taylor who had been rather severely handicapped. Competition appearances for LXF731 declined thereafter but it participated in the MCC race in September 1952 and then in occasional minor events in the later 50s and 60s as typified by R Brodie’s entry in the car at the Dunfermline driving tests at this time. The car subsequently found its way to Northern Ireland where it was bought by David Bazire and had returned to England by 1968. J D Classics purchased the car from Bazire in 2011 and undertook a full chassis off restoration returning the car to its original racing specification and colour. Since then it has been maintained regardless of cost and has successfully completed the Mille Miglia on two occasions and the Le Mans Legends Support Race. Offered with a comprehensive history file, including period photos and correspondence between Bazire and Hamilton, LXF731 provides a unique opportunity to acquire a historic Jaguar that played a key role in the early career of one of Britain’s most charismatic and successful drivers of the 1950s.

Period Race History

1951

5th May

Track: Silverstone, Daily Express Trophy Meeting

Race: 1 hour Production Car race

Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 30

Result: 3rd

17th June

Track: Circuito da Boavista, Porto

Race: 1st Grand Prix of Portugal

Driver: Duncan Hamilton

Result: DNF

11th August

Track: Boreham

Race: Williams Lyons Trophy

Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 108

Result: 1st

Race: Unlimited National Race

Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 108

Result: 1st

18th August

Track: Goodwood, BARC 7th Members meeting

Race: Over 3000cc Sports Car race

Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 36

Result: 2nd

Race: Handicap race A

Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 36

Result: 2nd

Race: Handicap race D

Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 36

Result: 2nd

Race: Handicap race E

Driver: Duncan Hamilton. Car No. 36

Result: 2nd

29th September

Track: Goodwood, International meeting

Race: Sports Car race

Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 61

Result: 5th

Race: Handicap race

Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 61

Result: 3rd  

13th October

Track: Winfield

Race: Unlimited Sports Car race

Driver: Philip Fotheringham-Parker. Car No. 57

Result: Finished

1952

31st March – 2nd April

Event: RAC International Rally

Driver: C M Kemp

Result: Finished

May

Event: Morecambe Rally

Driver: C M Kemp. Car No. 30

Result: Finished

30th August

Track: Silverstone

Race: 750 MC 6 Hour Relay race

Driver: C M Kemp. Car No. 29A

Result: 4th

13th September

Track: Silverstone

Race: MCC Sports Car race

Driver: C M Kemp. Car No. 4

Result: Finished