Two unique Jaguars with a Belgian twist
How proud we are!
To be able to present two one-off coachbuilt Jaguar XK 120s, both with a strong Belgian history and belonging to the same collection, obviously not everyone can do that!
For years, our workshop has been the base of operations for the restoration, repair and maintenance work on these two pieces uniques. Allow us to briefly present both cars with pride.
1951 Jaguar XK120 by Carrosserie Oblin
The Jaguar XK120 Oblin started life as one of the 3 chassis that Jaguar had prepared as spare chassis for a lightweight 1951 Le Mans XK120. Fortunately, this chassis had not been needed and was sold to the Belgian Jaguar importer; Madame Bourgeois. She had found the perfect customer for it: a Belgian racing driver, Jacques Herzet.
Monsieur Herzet bought the chassis and immediately sent it to Martial Oblin, a Brussels coachbuilder. He built the car into an all-aluminium coupé - inspired by Ferrari 195. Martial Oblin would build only about three cars in his career; a Jaguar XK120, a Talbot Lago T26 GS and a Ferrari 166 MM. The Ferrari was also commissioned by Jacques Herzet.
Herzet, with his co-pilot Georges Baudouin, drove the XK120 Oblin to 2nd place in the mythical Liege-Rome-Liege race in 1951. It later participated in numerous other races including le Tour De France 1952. In October 1952, the car was exhibited at the Brussels Motor Show.
1952 Jaguar XK120 by Stabilimenti Farina - 'Flying Jaguar Coupé'
The Flying Jaguar Coupé is an XK120-based coupé built by Stabilimenti Farina in Italy. The car was one of the brainchildren previously named Madame Joska Bourgeois. At the time, she was Jaguar's importer for Belgium and felt that Jaguar's product range was too limited. In 1951, she took matters into her own hands and with the approval of William Lyons, founder and then managing director of Jaguar, she ordered 3 coachbuilt Jaguars from Stabilimenti Farina.
Her intention was to present these models at the 1952 Motor Show, commercialise them and build as many as 50 units of each. Despite the beautiful design and great idea, the 3 of Farina-Jaguars became a fiasco. The concept did not catch on and none of the importers from other countries were supportive of the idea. One piece of each model was built and that was all.
Meanwhile, we are some 70 years on and both cars have undergone the necessary repairs and restorations with us in the meantime. Currently, they belong to the same collection that we, Marreyt Classic Cars, are happy to keep in honour for our French customer.
To mark their 20th anniversary, Octane Magazine released an anniversary edition of their magazine. In this edition, they honour this pair in the article: 'The Belgian-bodied Jaguar XKs'. Marreyt Classic cars was allowed to make this unique duo available.
In honour of their presentation at the 35th Brussels Motor Show on 22 October 1952, the two Jaguars XK 120s were reunited back at the Heysel palaces in Brussels.
We are glad that we created this opportunity and were able to have this historic moment captured on film. Marreyt Classic Cars is once again creating a once in a lifetime experience....
For us as Belgian classic car specialists, it is with great pleasure that we can present this duo of Jaguars with Belgian history.