1955' Jaguar Xk140

Cult Classics & Detailing are excited to present for sale, this fast road modified 1955 Jaguar XK140 SE.
The Car
Finished in Old English White with contrasting Maroon interior our XK is the more desirable Special Equipment model with C-Type cylinder head and manual / overdrive transmission It has quite few mechanical modifications and has just undergone an extensive recommissioning at XK legends, Guy Broad in Coventry.
The History
The car comes with a fascinating history, as is the way with classic cars, a lot of it is word of mouth and there are some gaps in documented proof but here is what we know..
Manufactured on 24th October 1955 and like most XK140s, ours was bound for the USA. It was despatched to Hornbury of Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood where it lived a quiet life cruising the strip!
Fast forward 30 years and the XK has moved east to Cleveland Tennessee and is living a much more exciting life. It is now being raced, quite successfully in VSCCA events piloted by Jim Foley. The car raced in these events between 1986 and 1994, it was then passed on to WEC and Le Mans driver Pierre Honegger who competed in both the VSCCA and in France. The XK was then returned to the USA and was used as a road car for a short period before finally coming back home to the UK in 1999.
Purchased from Retro Classics, the XK received its first UK registration in December 1999 and was kept by its owner for the next 24 years as part of his private collection.
The Mechanicals
As you would imagine the XK has been extensively modified for its time as a classic race car. The engine was built by renowned American Jaguar racer, Carl “Tivvy” Shenton and features a shot-pressed and stress relieved crank, JE pistons, high lift cams and a set of John Miller tubular headers. Further modifications included Girling front disc brakes and 5 point racing harnesses.
Since this work, the car has benefited from further engine work from VSE Engineering in June 2005. This included an upgrade to VS01 specification which comprised of block liners, new high lift cams, uprated water pump, electronic ignition, a pair of huge H8 carburetors and Facet high pressure fuel pump.
When we acquired the XK it was still very much in racing trim, with AVO coilover suspension and 2. 5 degrees of negative camber on the front wheels! This set up was fine for full chat into the switch backs at Laguna Seca but not so pleasant cruising the A46!!
So we dispatched the car to Guy Broad with the brief to keep its ex race car feel but to make it a little less hardcore. He replaced the entire front suspension with new top arms, bushes and steering rack mounts. The rock hard coilovers were replaced with a set of GAZ adjustable shocks all round and both carbs were stripped and rebuilt with new needles and intake trumpets. Whilst it was there we also had the brake servo replaced with a correct Lockheed item, a new alternator and had the sills re undersealed.
The XK now drives fantastically, it is very fast and sounds amazing, which always did but the ride and handling are now transformed, it now feels like a properly set up XK140 should feel like. It is as pleasant as it is exhilarating to drive now and will never fail to put a smile on your face.
The Exterior
Subject to an older restoration, possibly back in its racing life, our XK still presents well, it is displaying a lovely aged patina, there are a few chips and cracks to the paintwork but these just add to its character and enhance its ex race car looks. One thing that is lacking, is any corrosion, on the body or the underside, please refer to the underside photos on our website.
It sits on its original wire wheels which are all in excellent condition and still retain the original brass knock off centres, these are shod in a matching set of Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres.
Despite being a open top roadster, the XK comes with full wet weather gear comprising of a convertible hood and door tops, all in very nice condition.
The Interior
Finished in contrasting Maroon the interior, like the exterior, has a lovely lived in patina about it. The mats are a little threadbare in places but all the leather is lovely condition. The dash houses a set of fully functioning gauges and is topped off by that beautiful Moto-Lita steering wheel.
The Paperwork
The XK comes with its current V5 showing no previous UK owners, there is a comprehensive history file including FIVA identity cards, it’s US title from its time in Tennessee, a significant collection of invoices and receipts spanning the last 25 years of ownership, a collection of old MOT certificates, literature on the car and some old photos.
The Conclusion
This is a great opportunity to own a truly characterful example of Jaguars sublime XK140, mechanically sorted and with a fascinating history. It is an exhilarating car to drive with an estimated 230-240 bhp on tap and that glorious close ratio manual/ overdrive transmission.
This is a car that has been built to be driven, it is in fine fettle thanks to the experts at Guy Broad and is just waiting for its next grand motoring adventure.