1952 Jaguar XK 120

Chassis 672637

• A faithful re-creation of the Bugatti Type 252 design
• More than $238,000 in documented build invoices
• Jaguar XK chassis and motor with the upgraded C-Type cylinder head
• Finished in French racing blue with blue leather interior

The Bugatti Type 252 occupies a fascinating place in the marques history. Conceived during the final years of Bugatti family ownership, it represented one last attempt to return the company to serious road-car production after the death of Ettore Bugatti in 1947. Styled by Giovanni Michelotti and completed as a one-off prototype, the Type 252 was never developed into a production model, leaving behind one of the more intriguing what if? stories of postwar European motoring.

Its rarity and distinctive appearance have made the Type 252 an appealing subject for re-creation, and this example was constructed with considerable care using proven Jaguar XK mechanical components beneath hand-formed aluminum coachwork. The result is a convincing interpretation of Bugattis final family-era sports car, combining evocative French styling with familiar and robust British engineering.

The project began in 2018 with a bare rolling Jaguar XK chassis fitted with an XK-series engine. From there, the car was developed into a complete Type 252-inspired roadster through an extensive multi-year build supported by invoices totaling more than $238,000.

Red Car Restorations of Rockwall, Texas was responsible for a substantial portion of the chassis preparation and mechanical setup. Work included fitting and sorting the chassis, fabricating the bumpers and Borrani wheels, installing the instrumentation and wiring, and attending to the Weber carburetors and radiator.

The body was created by ADC Enterprises of Ferris, Texas using a CAD-designed body buck over which the aluminum panels were carefully formed and finished. New steel tubing was fabricated to create the cockpit structure, along with the front and rear body supports. ADC also constructed the door frames, bumpers, and grille, and installed the windscreen and dashboard.

Final cosmetic work was completed by Foster Vintage of Northlake, Texas, which finished the chassis and painted the hand-formed aluminum bodywork in a striking French racing blue. The interior was trimmed in complementary blue leather by Marshall Custom Upholstery of Marshall, Texas, completing the period-inspired presentation.

Today, the car remains in stellar condition, presenting exceptionally well throughout. The aluminum coachwork is crisp and beautifully finished, while the French racing blue paintwork retains excellent depth and gloss. The interior is similarly fresh, with taut blue leather upholstery, neatly finished trim, and a purposeful cockpit that captures the character of a mid-century European sports car.

Mechanically, the Jaguar XK underpinnings provide a welcome degree of usability to what is otherwise an exceptionally exotic design. The twin-cam XK engine fitted with a C-Type cylinder head and Weber carburetion were rebuilt during the build by AMS Racing in Bossier City, Louisiana. The combination of the proven Jaguar motor and familiar chassis components make the car far more approachable to service and enjoy than the original one-off Bugatti could ever be.

More than simply a visual tribute, this Type 252 recreation represents a serious and highly detailed effort to bring one of Bugattis most obscure postwar designs to life. With substantial documented investment, hand-formed aluminum coachwork, proven Jaguar mechanicals, and restoration-fresh presentation, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the spirit of a car that otherwise exists only as a singular prototype.

Offers welcome and trades considered.