So I was out taking pics of Dad's 120 for insurance purposes (no damage, just for agreed value policy application) and wrote down the chassis, engine, body, and gearbox numbers. Is there a resource which will help me decipher them? For example, I understand that some 120's came w/ C-Type heads - will anything in the engine number tell me that?

Thanks!

 

This link may help decipher the numbering:

XK 120/140/150 SERIAL & PRODUCTION NUMBERS - THE JAGUAR SOCIAL NETWORK of XK 120-140-150-E-Type Owners

There's tables of chassis and engine numbers for XK120/140/150.

Graham

 

Graham,

Thanks very much for the link - great info. One thing it doesn't seem to address, however, is the engine number suffix on my Dad's car. Engine number has a "-SS" suffix.

Thanks again for the link.

 

George,

The SS suffix could well indicate a C-Type head.

JDHT (Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust) is a good source of definitive information on original build specifications for individual vehicles but they do make a charge for this service.

Graham

 

the engine number ends with what is probably an 8 S. Look closely. the 8 is the compression ration,, the S indicates specail equipment model, higher lift cam, wire wheels and other equip depending on mfg date.
The engine # is on the block on a small flat just above the oil filter..below the carbs...AND if the orignal cyl head is on the car, that same # is on the head, inner valley where the spark plugs are..on the inner plug valley face at the front end. If that number is different..than the head was replaced at some point.
You should find the chassis number on the frame, left side upper flat below the exhaust and just fwd of the brake mast cyl (sometimes covered with paint or gook..it is stamped into the frame. The body number is on a tag above the firewall..where the hood (bonnet0 closes just ahead of diriver..(if left hand drive car),. An "S" car will have wire wheels, and a roundish bead at the rear wheel arch (fills in the space where spats would fit on a disc wheel car). Once you have all the numbers you can contact Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust for a form to get the orignal "birth certificate" for the car..nice to have.