First year XK140 given new life
The XK140 was a short-lived step on the ladder between the late 1940s XK120 and mid-to-late 1950s XK150, with all three being something of a transitional era from the SS Jaguar 100 and the thoroughly modern and groundbreaking Jaguar E-Type that took the world by storm in 1961. The XK140 was produced between 1954 and 1957 and is basically an upgraded and improved XK120, with more leg room, a more standard rack-and-pinion steering layout, and more customization options in comparison.
This particular first-year XK140 was distributed by the Hoffman Motor Car Company in New York, and after that jaunt across the pond, the history grows a bit fuzzy. What is known is that it was given a lengthy restoration that began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. It is unknown if this was someone’s project car or if the restoration was more professionally done, but we do know that the car was repainted, reupholstered, and that the engine was rebuilt. There are plenty of service records available, as well as a Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate.
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Goodbye gray skies, hello blue
The original color was a light Birch Grey, but the restoration saw this Jaguar redone in a light Jenny Blue, with an aftermarket canvas soft top in dark blue with matching and removable side curtains for inclement weather. The car’s whole profile dips down considerably from the front to the midsection behind the cabin, before a curvaceous bump backs up and around to the trunk. Aftermarket Lukas driving lights have been added underneath to augment the original headlights, and fender-mounted circular side mirrors provide that classic touch.
Up front, a solid chrome bumper with two small overriders sits underneath the hoop-shaped grille, with seven vertical and widely spaced slats allowing plenty of airflow. In back, two smaller corner bumpers feature small protruding chrome mounting points for the bullet rear lights, and a pair of gun-barrel polished exhaust outlets beneath the rear corner bumpers. Rounding out the outside are four wire-style 16″ chrome wheels shod with 6.00-16 Michelin Pilote X tires.
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Black is the new red
The original interior of this Jaguar was a bright red, but it has been redone entirely in a more classic and sleek black, with leatherette bucket seats, simplified door panels, clean carpeting, and a minimalist dash which features light parring on the top for safety. There is a grab-handle on the passenger door for security on those tight turns, as well as easy entry and exit. The rearview mirror has been mounted to the top of the dashboard, slightly towards the passenger side.
Both doors feature map pockets, and both seats have simple lap belts for safety and legal compliance. A compass-style quad-spoke steering wheel is clad in black and features thin black spokes at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions, as well as a yellow Jaguar shield logo in the center. There’s also a central-mounted gauge cluster with a 0-140 mph speedometer, a reverse-direction tachometer that redlines at 6,000 rpm, as well as an inset clock, water, oil, battery, and fuel gauges in between.
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Six reasons why British motoring excels
The 3.4L (207ci) inline-six engine was completely rebuilt in 2011, courtesy of Coventry West of Lithonia, Georgia. At the time of the rebuild, Coventry West also overhauled the front suspension, installed a PerTronix ignition coil and an aluminum radiator, and replaced the wheel bearings, tires, the left-rear wheel hub, the brake shoes, and hydraulics. The engine features the upgraded C-Type cylinders that came as an optional upgrade in the original XK140s, though we are not sure if the original engine was sold with the upgrade or if it was added as part of the rebuild. Dual overhead camshafts and twin SU carburetors are also notable, giving an overall performance characteristic that punches well above its weight.
All of that power is pushed to the rear wheels by way of a four-speed manual transmission, and as mentioned in the introduction, when the XK140 replaced the XK120, one of the changes was a standardized rack-and-pinion steering system. The odometer reads 17,000 miles, about 1,000 of which are from the current owner, but sadly, the true mileage is unknown.
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Final thoughts: A roadster by any other name
This XK140 has had just about every inch covered during the restoration, but that’s part of the reason why she looks so clean and new. Great expense and effort have been made to ensure this Jaguar is in a like-new state, with the pedigree of certification and JCNA Concours score sheets to back it up. If you’re looking for a gorgeous piece of British automotive history that has seen someone else do all the tedious restoration work to bring it to show-ready condition, then this XK140 is a fine prize to pick up. Just make sure to actually check out the auction and place a bid before she’s gone!
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