Lot 9
1956 Jaguar XK140 MC Fixed Head Coupé
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

This lot is available for online bidding at Proxibid.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com

3.4-litre straight six-cylinder engine with C-Type head, 210 HP, two-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, independent front suspension with double wishbones, longitudinal torsion bar rear suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs; wheelbase: 102”


In 1954, Jaguar introduced the XK140 as an upgrade to the highly successful Jaguar XK120, introduced with sturdier bumpers to give better protection both front and rear. The major changes were mechanical in nature, the most important being the repositioning of the engine three inches forward in the chassis. This not only afforded additional passenger room, but it also provided space for the battery in the front fender well, thus freeing the area behind the seats for a jump seat and/or additional storage. This produced a significant change in the road handling by shifting the balance of the car’s weight to the front axle. The Fixed Head Coupés also feature a windscreen moved slightly forward, allowing for maximum interior room. The XK140s are prized for the combination of the best styling attributes of the original Lyons design, but a higher degree of refinement and power, making them more suitable for the open road. The XK legacy continued with outright victories at Le Mans in 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1957. This 24-hour grueling marathon is a true test of speed and endurance, and the XK-Series proved to be up to the challenge.

This lovely Fixed Head Coupé is both rare and exceptionally restored. A product of the last year of XK140 production, also the year Jaguar first began offering automatic transmissions, this car is an extremely rare example being 1 of only 140 built with a factory Borg-Warner automatic transmission.

Restoration began in 2010 with an excellent car displaying only 75,000 miles. The body was removed from the frame and rotisserie bead blasted to bare metal. After priming, Jaguar’s Carnival Red paint was expertly applied with a clear finishing coat. The craftsmanship is exceptional, with excellent panel gaps and a gorgeous finish. Every piece of chrome is fully restored and original to the car.

The frame received the same treatment, with no less than seven coats of enamel applied, and it remains just as clean today. Every suspension, steering, and braking component on the car was replaced, including the wiring harness, and both the driveshaft and fresh wire wheels were fully balanced by Dayton Wire Wheel. Even the exhaust manifolds have been aircraft ceramic coated.

Under the bonnet, the fully rebuilt engine gleams, complete with all the hard-to-find original parts and fixtures, right down to the glass washer fluid bottle. Literally every fastener and hose clamp, and every belt and hose were properly sourced from the UK, all with the correct finishes and labels in place. Even the correct six-volt twin batteries are utilized, creating a 12-volt positive ground system. The original SU H6 carbs were rebuilt, and somehow even the correct helmeted battery cables were sourced overseas. The car has obtained a very limited number of miles since and runs and drives with proper function throughout.

Inside the car, the walnut dash is spectacularly finished, with every gauge and switch correctly fitted. The Biscuit leather interior surfaces are accurately stitched and supple, created from Jaguar spec hides by Barrett Jaguar in Muncie, Indiana, who also supplied the wool headliner. Even the boot is beautifully turned out and impeccably clean, and the purchase includes a full complement of factory tools and the original jack. These Fixed Head Coupés are quite elegant and were a harbinger of the fixed roof luxury touring cars that would propel Jaguar sales right into today.

The cleanliness and accuracy of the restoration was verified by the Jaguar Club of North America in 2011 at three consecutive judged events, where the car earned an average of 99.96 points and the owner at the time was presented with a National First Place award. The XK140 MC cars are the most desirable of the series, and when combined with Fixed Head Coupé coachwork and the first-year automatic transmission, this accurate and sought-after example will be a highlight of any Jaguar marque event or concours. We’d all like to own a car with direct lineage to the Le Mans winning Jaguar tradition, and one that is well-restored and a provides instant blue-chip collectability. That opportunity is before you now.