Jaguar XK120 (1948 - 1954)
Probably only one other new sports car has ever had the impact of the XK120 - and that was the Jaguar E-Type. The XK 120 really was a revolution - a brand-new 3.4 litre twin cam engine that made the XK the quickest production car in the world, superb styling from the unerring eye of William (later Sir William) Lyons and a price that defied belief - just £998 plus tax. Indeed so may people doubted that a car so cheap could possibly achieve its claimed maximum speed of 120 mph, that Jaguar took one to a closed autoroute in Belgium. It achieved 126 mph and the legend was born.

Jag hunting with Autotrader
Jaguar XK120 | Aston Martin gallery