Jaguar XK120 Roadster

1948 to 1954 · Roadster · 7,631 built

A 1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster cost $3,345 new. Over the past 12 months, 24 have sold publicly at a median of $69,026. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $73,700. Across the most recent 250 sales on file, prices ran from $14,300 to $7,824,600, depending on mileage, color, and history.

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Shifty Estimate
$73,700
High confidence · $38K to $122K
Down 17.1% over 12 months
Oct 2025Rolling 6-month medianOct 2026
Median · 12 mo
$69,026
Sales · 12 mo
24
Market cap
$562.4M · 7,631 built
Original MSRP
$3,345Up 2103% since new

The market

Every recorded 1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster sale, by date and price
Oct 2026 · Bring a Trailer
$90,000 · 67,000 mi · Pastel Green
See this car
$100k$200k$300k$400kNov 202320252026SHIFTY ESTIMATE $74k
Sold Bid to, not sold
80 sales · 26 unsoldmedian $69kupdated Oct 2026

Community

Latest results

The newest 1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster sales with photographs
1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, sold Oct 2026

Sold $70,552

1952 · Pastel Green · 100,000 mi
Oct 8, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, sold Oct 2026

Sold $86,021

£65,000
1952 · black · 63,520 mi
Oct 1, 2026 · Car & Classic
UK sales of this model ran 20% above US sales over 3 years.
1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, sold Sep 2026

Sold $21,567

1953 · Cream · 19,000 mi
Sep 22, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, sold Sep 2026

Sold $64,507

1952 · Red · 1,500 mi
Sep 18, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, sold Aug 2026

Sold $45,555

1953 · White · 65,000 mi
Aug 24, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, sold Aug 2026

Sold $38,795

1953 · Red · 70,000 mi
Aug 23, 2026 · Bring a Trailer

Every XK120

Sold prices, last 12 months · Oct 25, 2026
Every XK120. Sold prices, last 12 months · Oct 25, 2026
Roadster1948 to 1954Drophead Coupe1953 to 1954Coupe1951 to 1954
Shifty Estimate$73,700$61,600Low confidence$62,000
Sold median$69,02624 sales$65,4506 sales$53,8504 sales
12-month moveDown 17.1%Too few sales to callToo few sales to call
For saleNoneNoneNone
Also in the XK family

Specifications

Engine
Inline-6 DOHC, 3.4L
Power
160 hp
Torque
195 lb-ft
0 to 60
10 s
Top speed
120 mph
Transmission
Manual
Drivetrain
RWD
Curb weight
2,856 lb
Production
7,631 built
Original MSRP
$3,345
Designer
William Lyons

Common questions

How much does a Jaguar XK120 Roadster cost?

A 1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster cost $3,345 new. Over the past 12 months, 24 have sold publicly at a median of $69,026. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $73,700. Across the most recent 250 sales on file, prices ran from $14,300 to $7,824,600, depending on mileage, color, and history.

What is a 1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $73,700, down 17.1% over the past 12 months. Confidence is high: 24 public sales in a year gives a firm read.

Is a Jaguar XK120 Roadster a good investment?

It has appreciated 2103% against its $3,345 list price. Values are down 17.1% over the past 12 months. Only 7,631 were built. The caution is spread, not direction: across the most recent 250 sales on file, prices ran from $14,300 to $7,824,600, and mileage explains most of that.

How many Jaguar XK120 Roadster have sold?

Shifty has at least 250 public sales of the Jaguar XK120 Roadster on file.

What has a Jaguar XK120 Roadster sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

  • $90,000Oct 12, 2026Pastel Green · 67,000 mi
  • $70,552Oct 8, 2026Pastel Green · 100,000 mi
  • $86,021Oct 1, 2026black · 63,520 mi

About the 1948 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

William Lyons' XK120 revolutionized sports car design when it debuted at the 1948 London Motor Show. Originally intended as a limited-production showcase for Jaguar's new twin-cam inline-six, overwhelming demand led to 7,631 roadsters being built over six years. The 120 mph top speed, unheard of for a production car under $4,000, came courtesy of the advanced 3.4-liter XK engine that would power Jaguars for decades. Early cars featured hand-formed aluminum bodies over ash frames, while later examples used steel construction. The roadster's pure lines and dramatic proportions established the template for British sports cars. Today, XK120 roadsters represent the most accessible entry into serious Jaguar collecting, with restored examples offering genuine 120-mph performance wrapped in timeless style. Racing provenance adds significant value, as many competed successfully in period.

Sales and listings

Showing 20 of 313 on file

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