2011-03-04 23:10:48 | John Elmgreen writes:

This car was pictured in Joseph Wherry's 1967 book on Jaguar.

2014-11-24 07:39:57 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 11/24/14
www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-XK-MC-1955-jaguar-xk-140-mc-3-4-l-/291305397842
Opening bid US $80,000, no reserve, 9 days left in auction, car now said to be in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Sellers description:
1955 JAGUAR XK140M COUPE
Chassis No. A814141DN
Engine No. G2919-8
Gearbox No. JLE28252
Body No. J4208

This xk140 (Special Equipment) fixed head coupe, with the 3.4litre twin overhead camshaft engine, is one of the few remaining examples of this magnificent sports car.

I became the third owner when I acquired her in 2002. At that time, she had accumulated 138,212miles. Olivia, as she became to be known, now resides in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Having spent the first 47 years of her life in California, she was virtually free of corrosion and most of her components are original. In 2008 she was subject to a complete bare metal respray in deep Indigo Blue. At that time most of the exterior chrome was also refinished.

During my stewardship of this lovely numbers matching machine, I have spent over $20,000 to keep her fit and looking good. Mechanically, she is superb. In 2012, my son-in-law and I drove her from Edmonton, across the Rockies and Coastal mountain range, ferried to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, to the Jaguars on the Island Concours in Victoria. She scored 9.925 out of 10 in the driver category. (The .075 deductions have since been taken care of). We then drove her back home, a total of 1,650miles, without a hitch.

She is one wonderful automobile that I had hoped to pass onto my granddaughter but, guess what? She, like so many youngsters these days, doesn't care for or appreciate old British iron. I'll buy her a Honda or something like that which she will appreciate much more. So it's time to let the old girl go to someone new who will care for her.

Provenance
Olivia was built on April 1, 1955 and shipped to the Los Angeles dealer June 13, 1955. The first owner, a J. Jarrat, apparently a UAL pilot stationed in San Francisco, purchased her on July13, 1955. He kept her for 4 years then sold the car to Eugene Haunch. Mr. Haunch kept her for the next 40 years. In the 60's she periodically appeared at various car shows in Southern California as evidenced by show tags she still wears. By 1975, she had amassed 118,847mi and an engine overhaul was undertaken. 5 years later with 130,616mi on the odometer, the cylinder head was redone. Shortly thereafter Mr. Haunch decided to store her for a few years.

In 1988, following an indeterminate number of years in storage, Mr. Haunch decided to resurrect Olivia and installed new tires, wheels, splines, etc. Brakes were redone and the car was brought back to an almost new state. Notwithstanding a few paint chips and some crazing, she was not repainted. She looked good enough to appear at several car shows in the 90's.

He kept the car for an additional 11 years before selling it, with the odometer now reading 134,090 mi, to its third owner, a Mr. David Olson of Oakland California. She was driven about 4,000 miles during his ownership (including participation in the California Mille). When I purchased her in 2002 she had 138, 218miles under her belt.

Now, 12 years later, she has now travelled nearly 145,00miles and is still going very strong.

Mechanical
The Good
o Engine, gearbox, and chassis numbers all match the body number as attested by the DJHT certificate.

o Oil pressure runs at 40-60psi under load. Drops to 20-30 when idling hot.

o Overheating, even in California, is not a problem due mainly to the installation in 1990 of a Ford flathead alloy radiator (looks original).

o Cylinder pressure good on all six cylinders.

o Overdrive works beautifully.

o Carburetors recently overhauled.

o Stainless steel exhaust system.

o Suspension overhauled and working fine.

o Wheels, knock offs and tires and battery still like new.

The not so Good
o There is a minor oil leak from the rear of the engine. (It's British).

o The SU carburetors require occasional tuning and adjustment.

o The Moss gearbox with non-synchro first gear, takes some getting used to.

o The drum brakes and rack and pinion steering are not power assisted, and clutch pedal is firm, so one has to work at driving her in tight quarters.

Body
The Good
o Absolutely rust free.

o Doors, bonnet and boot lid fit perfectly.

o Bare metal repaint in 2009 in deep Indigo Blue with clear coat.

o Having seen her stripped bare, and as photos attest, there has never been any damage or repair.

o Most chrome surfaces were re-plated in 2009.

o New glass in windshield.

o New seals and weather stripping everywhere.

The Not so Good
o Small area of acid corrosion through floor of unused battery box (not used since conversion to single 12 Volt battery).

o Slight ding on roof line above driver side windshield. (Hit by stone on road trip through Rockies).

o Plastic lens on backup lamp housing cracked. Chrome on lamp housing is pitted slightly on underside.

o Paint slightly damaged under original Lucas fender mirror where somebody inadvertently twisted the mirror mount.

o Slight paint imperfection down center of bonnet.

Interior
The Good
o New OEM steering wheel.

o All gauges and switches work. (Except the clock which sometimes works).

o Interior and dashboard lighting all work.

o Woodwork is in exceptional condition throughout the car (including the floorboards).

o The center drawer slides open like a fine piece of furniture.

o Upholstery changed from grey to black in 1966 and now has a subtle patina.

The not so good
o The finish on the instrument panel, though very good, could be to a higher standard.

o The carpeting, though showing no signs of wear, could be refreshed.

o The seats and center arm rest could be recovered in Connelly leather with blue piping as original.

Extras
· Custom made car cover.

· Original owner's manual.

· Original genuine Jaguar tool set.

· Spinner knock-off tool.

· Professionally produced photo album book.

· Collection of books on xk series.

· Joseph Wherry's 1967 book The Jaguar Story documenting the car's appearance at 1966 Los Angeles car show.

· Original steering wheel.

· Original California black plate.

· Service and historical records.

2014-12-04 10:41:40 | pauls writes:

Car returns to ebay 12/4/14
www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-XK-MC-1955-jaguar-xk-140-mc-3-4-l-/291315435263
Opening bid US $40,000 reserve not met no bids 9 days left in auction.

Previous auction received no bids.

2014-12-16 09:51:59 | pauls writes:

Car returns to ebay 12/16/14
www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-XK-140-1955-jaguar-xk-140-m-fhc-3-4-l-/291327198878
Opening bid US $40,000 reserve not met no bids 6 days left in auction.

Previous auction ended at $59,700 after 7 bids.