OK I will. There may be a few inaccuracies but I claim senility, it was a long time ago
Back in 1936 my Dad's mate Terry had a Jaguar SS100 which was his baby and his life long love. My Mum used to tell us how funny it was when Terry came round to see them. His arrival would be announced by the snout of his car peeking round the corner as he turned into their road, William Street in Walthamstow, and rolled up to the house. As he stopped my Mum would delight in watching him "grow" out of the car. He was a very tall man, 6' 7" I believe, and he had to haul his legs out while supporting himself on the seat back and wheel. Once out he always stood beside the car and tipped his cap to my grandmother who would have come outside to watch the performance.
However that is not the main point of this story which is to relate how the war brought about his ownership of the XK120. When war broke out petrol rationing was introduced for private vehicles and the ration allowed was based on engine size. Terry knew that he wouldn't be able to do all he wanted on his ration so he implemented a rather devious plan. He removed the engine from the SS100 and fitted a very small, I believe 50-100cc lawnmower engine in its place. This gave the car a top speed of around 15 mph but he was able to get about and save up his ration coupons as he did so. He joined the army in 1942, as a dockworker he had been exempt from call up, and was stationed in Dorset leaving the car at his home in Bow. Sadly the car was requisitioned for whatever being a large engined car suitable for conversion to a van. (I bet the REs had a surprise when they opened the bonnet!
) and was never seen again.
Once he returned from the war he set about saving for a replacement car and by the time he was in a position to buy one, Jaguar had brought out the XK120, it was 1948 or 49 I believe. Terry got his new car and drove it on a European tour using up his petrol coupons saved during the SS100 days. Apparently it was a common thing to use up coupons long after their issue, which resulted in a change in the coupons issued during the Suez crisis in the 50's which had a finite life imposed on them, as did the ones we received in the 1974 oil crisis although we didn't have to use them.
The last time I heard of the XK120 was when Terry put it up for sale in 1960 before he emigrated to Australia with his son and daughter after his wife was a victim of lung cancer I believe. My Father died in 1976 and was still in touch with Terry as we received a card from him signed "Terry, (the one with the Jag)!"
Students of todays whatsthisthen? will know at least one other.
