07 June 2025 | Market News
This handsome Jaguar XK140 is said to be in ‘fine condition’, having been with the same owner for the last 16 years. It has been carefully maintained since then, and was treated to a major engine overhaul in October 2019 at a cost of almost £22,000.
Finished in British Racing Green, the XK140’s bodywork looks excellent, with only minor signs of patination. The auction house describes it as ‘straight with excellent panel gaps’, while all the brightwork – including the chrome wire wheels – is said to be superb.
When new, the XK140’s cabin offered improvements over its predecessor’s, and this example doesn’t disappoint. The walnut-veneered dashboard impresses, as do the wood-rimmed steering wheel and leather upholstery. The seats in this car have been mounted three inches further back than standard, giving taller drivers some extra comfort on long journeys.
The auctioneers have noted a slight oil leak, and also suggest the car will need a general tune-up. However, it has the bonus of a host of mechanical improvements, including a five-speed gearbox, uprated disc brakes (courtesy of JD Classics), a C-Type cylinder head and power-assisted steering, making this a more practical and usable offering than a standard car.
The current owner bought this numbers-matching XK140 from JD Classics in April 2008. It left the factory finished in red with a black interior, and was originally exported to California. It arrived back in the UK in 1995, when it was restored, upgraded and converted to right-hand drive.
The XK140 was the shortest-lived of all the classic XK models, launching in 1954 and making way for its XK150 successor as early as May 1957. A grand total of 8935 XK140s had found buyers worldwide by then, with the Roadster being the most popular thanks to sales of 3347 cars, while the FHC (fixed-head coupé) and DHC (drophead coupé) were pretty evenly matched at 2798 and 2790 cars respectively.
To find out more about this usefully improved DHC, which is guided at £70,000-£80,000, visit https://carsonline.bonhams.com.
