INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT OF MOTORING
JAGUAR XK120
RECORD BREAKERS
Jabbeke
Highway, Belgium
1949 & 1953
LENGTH (of each): 175mm (73/4
inches
WEIGHT (of each): 700g (241/2oz)
EDITION OF 10 PAIRS
(With
matching numbers)
Individually cast in
solid aluminium.
Finished to order in Sterling Silver,
or Platinum.
The XK120
'Bubble' sculpture and
the presentation box are signed by
the late Norman Dewis (OBE).
A SHORT HISTORY
Following the
launch of the XK120
in 1948 to worldwide acclaim,
Jaguar were anxious to
prove the
car could actually achieve 120mph.
1949
HKV 500 was taken to
Jabbeke Highway, Belgium,
where speeds were certified by the
Royal Automobile Club de
Belgique.
Ron 'Soapy' Sutton
set a production car record of
132.6mph.
1953
Jaguar returned to Jabbeke to reclaim
the record from Pegasso.
MDU
524 was a much modfied XK120
with a full undershield and extended
headlamp
cowls that were actually
air intakes.
The tyre treads were shaved to a bare
minimum and a Perspex blister
was fitted over
the driver.
Hence the name 'BUBBLE'.
Norman Dewis,
Chief Test Driver,
perched precariously on a cushion
(no drivers seat), complained
he couldn't see over the scuttle.
"You don't need
to", he was told,
"you're only going in a straight line".
Norman set a blistering time on
his
outward run, but 'turn round time' didn't
allow the bubble to be
unbolted
to give Norman a breather before
blasting back.
Suffering from heat
exhaustion,
fume inhilation and almost asphyxiated,
Norman was lifted from
the car having
set an incredible average for the two
way run of
172.412mph,
which was to be the ultimate Jabbeke
speed record.
The speed was far
greater than anyone
had expected and onlookers were
alarmed at how the car
weaved and
almost took off into the traffic on the
domestic lane!
"Yes", said Norman
"it did feel a bit light
at times."
The authorities banned future speed
tests on
public roads, so Norman holds
the ultimate Jabbeke Highway Record.
(The above is compiled from the
stories told to
me by Norman)
A copy of the Speed Certifcate,
issued to Norman by the
Royal Automobile Club de Belgique,
accompanies the set.
The set is presented in a
bespoke wooden box,
signed by Norman Dewis
with a Certificat of Authenticity.
For prices and further
information,
please contact Robin:
+44 (0) 7767 824633
SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY
