Told by the post-war Attlee government to ‘export or die’, the British motor industry responded valiantly, none more so than Jaguar Cars, soon to become the UK’s biggest US-dollar earner thanks in no small measure to the success of its XK120 sports car.

Ironically, the XK120’s creation had only come about because delays in the gestation of the MkVII saloon had forced Jaguar to find an alternative method of bringing its new XK six-cylinder engine to public attention.

Conceived and constructed in but a few months, the XK120 debuted at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show where the stunning looking roadster caused a sensation.

Conceived as a low-volume model, the XK120 proved considerably more popular than expected, the resulting demand for what was then the world’s fastest production car taking Jaguar by surprise.

It was immediately obvious that the ash-framed alloy coachwork – hand built in the best vintage tradition – would have to go and the XK120 was re-engineered in steel after 240 c...