The XK120 was one of the first new sports cars designed after World War II. It was developed quickly to showcase Jaguar's new XK engine and to sustain the company until the delayed Mk VII Saloon, for which the engine was originally intended, was ready for production. Initially, only 200 cars were planned. However, the car's impressive 120-mph performance caused a sensation, helping establish the Jaguar brand's offerings as some of the UK's most sought-after exports in the decades following the war.