HomePick of the DaySumptuous Jaguar XK140 restored, ready for action

Sumptuous Jaguar XK140 restored, ready for action

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Manufactured between 1954 and 1957, the Jaguar XK140 was an upgrade to the first post-war Jaguar sports car, the legendary XK120.

The XK140 featured numerous improvements, including much-needed interior space, improved brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, increased suspension travel, and telescopic shock absorbers replacing the old-style lever arm shocks.

The XK140 increased interior space

The Interior space was gained by relocating the engine, firewall and dash forward to provide 3 inches more legroom, making 6-foot-plus drivers able to get in and drive the car.

The Pick of the Day is a 1955 Jaguar XK140 in Old English White with a red-leather interior that had received a full frame-off restoration, according to the West Palm Beach, Florida, dealer advertising the car on ClassicCars.com.

Restoration costs for an XK140 can easily exceed the value of the car due to the complicated construction. Getting all of those scrumptious curves right takes quite a bit of time and skill. 

The Jaguar’s styling is iconic

The XK140 is a fast car due to the DNA of the venerable XK C-Type race car, the most important piece being the C-Type cylinder head for the DOHC inline-6 engine. The XK140 was able to record 0-60 times as quick as 8.7 seconds with a top speed as high as 125 mph.

These cars drive amazingly well, much improved over the earlier XK120.

The Jaguar XK140 is one of those cars that is eligible for literally any event you could think of, including top concours d’elegance such as Amelia Island, Florida, or any vintage rally in the world.

The powerful dual-overhead-cam engine

If you are looking for a classic sports car that offers the Jaguar promises of “grace, space and pace,” the 1955 XK140 would fit the bill. At an asking price of $149,000 or best offer, it offers quite a lot of car for the money.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day

Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andy Reid's first car, purchased at age 15, was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe. His second, obtained by spending his college savings fund, was a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Since then, he has owned more than 150 cars—none of them normal or reasonable—as well as numerous classic motorcycles and scooters. A veteran of film, television, advertising and helping to launch a few Internet-based companies, Reid was a columnist for Classic Motorsports magazine for 12 years and has written for several other publications. He is considered an expert in European sports and luxury cars and is a respected concours judge. He lives in Canton, Connecticut.

2 COMMENTS

  1. In the dim past I owned and drove daily a 1953 XK120M., In my considered opinion the 140’s,while nice cars,would not hold a candlel to that car. The 140’s were heavier,not as nimble,had tacky overdone bumpers and had lost the crisp styling of the 120’s. As an addition my 120M had an overbore of .030,010 off the head and would hold the speedometer against the peg at 140mph.(In those days I still thought I was indestructible) That in line six is still a great and beautiful engine and I occasionally ran my car sans hood with everything under the hood polished. Yours for the Great Sport Cars of that era,Robert Walters (been there and done that)

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