From Winner to Judge: Dr and Mrs Simon Slaffer’s Remarkable Jaguar XK120 Story

One of the standout stories from Jersey Concours D’Elegance’s modern revival began in 2022, when one of the event’s earliest winners, Dr and Mrs Simon Slaffer, received recognition for their beautifully presented 1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé.

It is a car with both elegance and intrigue. A matching-numbers example, still presented in its original colour, the Jaguar was exported new to California and has since been the subject of an exacting 3,300-hour restoration in Jersey, carried out in strict accordance with JCNA Concours d’Elegance guidelines. Much of that painstaking work was undertaken by Simon himself, with a clear commitment to preserving the car’s originality wherever possible. As many original parts as could be saved were carefully retained and refurbished.

Dr and Mrs Simon Slaffer receiving their prize

Like many great cars, the XK120 carries with it a certain mystery. Little is known about its earliest years, though it was later owned by Jack Katzen, who served as Assistant Secretary of Defence under Ronald Reagan. After Katzen’s sudden death in 1990, the Jaguar remained untouched for 27 years. In a remarkable twist of fate, when a hurricane later destroyed his house, the garage survived, along with the car.

The Jaguar XK120 also holds a special place in Jersey’s own motoring story. During the 1952 Jersey International Road Race, no fewer than 11 XK120s were entered in the Sports Car Race, with Ian Stewart taking first place in an XK120C. That connection between the model and the Island’s motoring heritage gives Simon and Mrs Slaffer’s car an added resonance, linking it not only to international automotive history but to Jersey’s own long affection for beautifully engineered machines. Jersey Concours D’Elegance itself honours that heritage, with the modern event reviving a tradition that began in 1951 and continuing today at People’s Park as a celebration of design, provenance and presentation.

There is, too, a further thread that neatly ties this story back into the Concours itself. Event organiser Ian Barnes was, he has said, given a ride in racing driver John Buncombe’s XK120 during that same 1952 period, though, being only a baby at the time, he admits the memory is one borrowed more from family lore than personal recollection. Ian Barnes has also spoken publicly of his own family’s connection to Jersey’s original Concours era, underlining how deeply rooted the event remains in Island motoring history.

What makes this story especially pleasing is that it did not end with a trophy. Having enjoyed taking part in the 2022 Concours so much, Simon has since become one of the event’s judges, a fine example of how Jersey Concours D’Elegance continues to bring together owners, enthusiasts and custodians who value both the stories and the standards behind exceptional vehicles.

Some cars win prizes. The very best go on to become part of the story.

Dr and Mrs Simon Slaffer’s  1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé.