Belgian registration

High quality old restoration
Cylinder head Type C
Matching numbers

Unveiled at the London Motor Show in October 1954, and launched in 1955, the Jaguar XK 140 was nothing more or less than a "better" 120. Indeed, while the 120 claimed to reach 120mph, the new XK boasted a top speed of 140mph. The 140 is a little more upscale, with a slightly wider body, a seven-slat grille (compared to the 120's thirteen), a large one-piece front bumper, telescopic dampers and a more welcome rack-and-pinion steering system. But what Jaguar enthusiasts will remember most is the improved driving position (thanks to a 7.6 cm forward engine), less oversteer and a more powerful 3.4-litre 6-cylinder engine (190 bhp 'base'). The XK 140 SE, for Special Equipment, had a 210bhp engine, thanks in part to the Type C cylinder head, and sporty Rudge centre-spoke wheels and hubs. Between October 1954 and February 1957, 8,957 XK 140s were built, of which 3,357 were roadsters. Most of these were destined for the American market, and the vast majority were therefore built with left-hand drive.
The XK 140 presented here is an Open Two Seater roadster that received the rare and desirable Special Equipment option when it left the factory. Built in late 1955 (this is the 905th XK 140 OTS to come off the production line), it was sold new in the USA in 1956, where it spent most of its life. It was imported to France in the mid-1990s, along with two similar examples, by an amateur who undertook a complete restoration of all three. A large file of photos shows the body and chassis being stripped down and the whole thing being completely rebuilt. The car was completed in 1998 and sold to its current Belgian owner two years later in February 2000. He used it regularly until today, participating in a few rallies (including the Rallye des Légendes), while keeping it well maintained (€8,000 worth of invoices paid between 2000 and 2018 accompany the car's file). Just before the sale, the car benefited from a brake adjustment. Without being "concours", the paint still looks good for a 20 year old restoration. The interior is also in good condition; we will only note that the dashboard lining is peeling off at the level of the meters. The bonnet, side-screens and tonneau cover are in perfect condition. And our test drive was particularly conclusive. The engine is very powerful, the brakes are efficient and the Moss gearbox is very docile. This nice roadster, elegantly patinated and in perfect working order, halfway between the sporty XK 120 and the "big" XK 150, will seduce the amateurs of the genre.

This car will be sold by auction by AGUTTES Auction House, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on June the 20th, 2021.
The digital catalog is available by the following link
https://www.aguttes.com/en/catalog/113642?

Please contact us for any further details.
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+ 33 668 362 622