‘Project Protheroe’: A 1954 Jaguar XK120’s quest to gain FIA approval

“Built at Brown’s Lane in 1954, this car started life as a drophead coupé,” said Sir David. “It went to Canada, purchased for someone’s honeymoon [and] then came back to England and was converted to an open two-seater by Dr. Glenn Tollett, a dentist.”

It was Dr. Tollett who, during the conversion to an OTS, would install a Lander ‘Sigma’ engine, and disc brakes, supposedly unconventional for the model type and period. The car went on to race for 15 years. 

“He never managed to get it into a proper race class, because there simply wasn’t a class for disc-braked XK120s. At least, they weren’t accepted by the FIA. No one believed they raced with discs at international level in period.” 

After purchasing Dr. Tollett’s car through CKL as an ‘entry’ car for son Christopher, The Scholey’s went racing for five years as Class A invitees, all the while keeping the XK120 in its OTS configuration with twin SU carburettors and a 3.4-litre engine and often experiencing the same full classification ineligibility as Dr. Tollett before them.

Exasperated by not being eligible for entry to the 2015 Jaguar Classic Challenge Series for pre-1966 cars, again for not having the proper FIA accreditation, the Scholey’s briefly considered giving in. They explored the possibility of converting the car back to drum brakes at enormous cost, time and effort. 

“I was introduced to a company called Classic Autos,” explained Sir David. “Their workshop head is a very interesting man called Matthew King. He was dead set on research, and refused to accept the conventional knowledge that XK120 with disc brakes had not been raced in period.

"His meticulous research over two years eventually proved fruitful, unearthing the fact that in 1959 and 1960, things had changed for the car, under the activities of a very colourful and very good sportscar racer named Dick Protheroe.” 

A gallant and decorated World War II Bomber Pilot, Elmer Richard ‘Dick’ Protheroe DFC was a stalwart of post-war sportscar racing. ‘Dick’ purchased his first XK120 in Egypt, naming it ‘The Ancient Egyptian’. After returning to England, he would start a car dealership business while continuing to successfully race XK and E-type Jaguars, including XK120 ‘TTB 87’ in international class events at Brands Hatch and Aintree.

Sadly, Protheroe met an untimely death in a practice session at Oulton Park in 1966. Tragically, he was driving a Ferrari for one of the very first times following a long, fruitful and safe career aboard Jaguars. 

“He was loved and feared by his competitors in equal measure. A friend of mine raced him often and described him as being 'charming, fair, but scary'.” smiled Sir David. 

“The research from Matthew showed evidence that during his time racing this XK120, [Protheroe] went on doing everything he could to improve the performance, and finally in 1959, he put in a 3.8-litre engine, triple Weber carburettors. He also put a top on it, and above all, he fitted disc brakes!”

“So, after all that time, we went to the FIA and said ‘if we modify our car to this exact specification including the distinctive air intake hood, if we do this absolutely bolt for bolt, will you give us international papers?’ They thought about it, looked at our evidence and then said yes.” 

It’s this joyous relief in illuminating an important part of the car’s legacy, and finally gaining the long-desired FIA accreditation that has led Sir David’s XK120 to being lovingly named ‘Project Protheroe’. A tongue-in-cheek, but obviously heart-felt nod to the man whose ownership and legendary racing endeavours have proved so influential to the car’s distinctive characteristics.  

“To say we were delighted to be invited by [The Duke of Richmond] and the team here would be to understate it,” said a beaming Sir David. 

And with that, he and his son, who were both so generous with their time, headed off to prepare for yet another big moment in the life of ‘Project Protheroe’ when they kicked-off their 2023 race season within the Moss Trophy with that long-overdue FIA approval. 

Photography by Joe Harding and Lou Johnson.