2024-01-19 09:28:27 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 2/24

www.iconicauctioneers.com/1955-jaguar-xk140-coup-rec13206-1-stoneleigh-0224

Auction description: Race Retro Collectors' Car Sale 2024, Lot Number 950

Our vendor is an amateur race car engineer who enjoys automotive projects and saw the potential in a poorly photographed XK140 shell that had been stripped of most of its parts. Having inspected it, he was really pleased to see that it was straight and that the metalwork needed was within his capabilities and so he set about building an XK140 that was designed for driving pleasure. After some consideration, he decided that he didnt want anything too outrageous and so set his sights on a 'grand touring' specification, but with the focus very much on usability and reliability rather than on originality.

A fully rebuilt Series 2 XJ6 4.2-litre straight-six and a Jaguar 4-speed manual gearbox with overdrive were sourced and were to form the motive power for the recreated XK. Additional mechanical aspects included:

Rebuilt rear axle with new shafts and brand new LSD

Rebuilt 2-inch HS8 carburettors with a manual choke conversion

Electronic ignition and high-torque starter motor

Hayward and Scott stainless steel twin-pipe exhaust complete with multi-branch free-flow stainless steel manifold

Twin-piston front brake caliper conversion with servo-assisted disc brakes

Single-piston rear disc brake conversion

Twin-circuit brake system connected to an aluminium pedal box with cockpit balance adjustment

Upgraded suspension with adjustable front shock absorbers

Aluminium radiator with electric fan, thermostat and override switch on dashboard

Aluminium fuel tank with electronic fuel pump

Electric power steering with dashboard-mounted adjustment

Reconditioned, right-hand drive steering rack

Halogen headlights

Twin-speed self-parking windscreen wipers

12V negative earth electrical system with cotton covered upgraded wiring loom and modern fuse box and relays.

The bodywork and chassis were addressed in the usual way with a full strip and all damaged and corroded metal repaired or replaced followed by epoxy paint to all areas. The chosen colour was Ford Stealth Grey, not for the purists perhaps but it looks really good and the purposeful look is enhanced by 15", powder-coated, 72-spoke centre-lace wire wheels with modern rubber.

Given that the shell came without any interior to speak of, everything in the cabin has had to be freshly sourced and the owner has taken the opportunity to install some discreet upgrades. He chose modern seats with headrests, retrimmed in a heritage-style Dolphin Grey leather to ensure that they are still in keeping and there is a Bluetooth radio concealed below the dashboard. A racing-style pedal box has aluminium pedals and the electric power steering can be adjusted on the dashboard. Some things just have to be original though so there is a genuine new wool headlining and Smiths dials repurposed from elsewhere (hence showing a fictional mileage figure for this car) and a lovely three-spoke Moto-Lita wood-rimmed steering wheel. £10,000 has been recently spent with renowned Jaguar XK specialists M&C Wilkinson of South Yorkshire for final commissioning, totalling 65.5 hours.

The Jaguar is MOT exempt but is supplied with its V5C and a substantial quantity of invoices and receipts for the rebuild. This is patently not your regular XK140 and is probably best thought of as the car the XK would have become if it had continued to be developed by the factory over the years.

JAGUAR XK140 COUPÉ

Registration Number 604 UYL

MOT Expiry Exempt

Chassis Number 5814473

Engine Number A9334-8

Transmission Manual

Body Colour Ford Stealth Grey

2026-09-09 14:30:37 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 9/26

handh.co.uk/vehicles/1955-jaguar-xk140-fixed-head-coupe-16/

23rd Sep, 2026 10:00

Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire

1955 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupe

No Reserve

Registration No: 604 UYL

Chassis No: S814473

MOT: Exempt

Unique custom-built example of the XK140

Features an XJ6 4.2-litre straight-six with HS8 carburettors, four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive, LSD, and much more!

Purchased by the vendor in 2022 as a nearly completed project, requiring finishing, for some £45,000

Subject to some £11,800 of expenditure with renowned Jaguar XK specialists M. & C. Wilkinson for final commissioning, totalling 65½ hours

Accompanied by a detailed history file

This handsome coupé is the result of one enthusiast’s vision for improving on the original design, and benefits from numerous upgrades such as a 4.2-litre engine from an XJ6, HS8 carburettors, and a limited-slip differential, among many others. The gearbox is a desirable four-speed manual with overdrive.

The car was registered with the DVLA in 2015, having been imported from abroad. It is believed to have arrived as a project car, and been acquired by an enthusiast who undertook the majority of the restoration and modifications before it was sold in 2022 in nearly-finished condition to our vendor for £45,000. He proceeded to spend around £11,800 across 2023 with well-known Doncaster-based Jaguar specialists M. & C. Wilkinson having it completed and brought up to running order.

Among the various finishing tasks performed by Wilkinson were the installation of 123 electronic ignition, a new water pump and a rear brake calliper conversion, fabricating new brake pipes, setting up the carburettors, and fitting the leather bonnet strap. The result is a unique and undeniably eye-catching XK which should prove to be tremendous fun on the open road. Although not a car for purists, it will certainly attract a lot of positive attention in the Jaguar world and could prove to be an excellent classic for long-distance touring. There may even be scope for further modifications with a view to tackling sprints, hill climbs or rallies, should the new owner be competitively minded. This wonderful one-off is supplied with a history file, including V5C and invoices from M. & C. Wilkinson.