1955 jaguar xk140 fixed head coupe

FOR SALE VIA PUBLIC AUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND

Auction: Sunday 27 November, 2.00pm

Auction & Viewing location: Due Drop Events Centre, 770 Great South Road, Wiri, Manukau 2104

Auction Estimate: $140,000 - $180,000 Buyers Premium $0 - $199,999: 15%+GST $200,000 - $399,999: 10%+GST $400,000 and above: 5%+GST GST is applicable to the buyers premium only.

More photos and information are available on our website.

Interested parties are encouraged to register for bidding at our website Webbs Auctions Engine: G5639/8 Chassis: 804475DN Vehicle will be sold registered and with a current WOF The founding of Jaguar began when a young William Lyons formed a small company that built motorcycle sidecars called Swallow Sidecars in 1922. Not long after, he designed more stylish bodywork for motor cars, such as those made by the Standard Motor Company, and by 1931 the company’s first car, the S.S.1, was on the road. The arrangement with Standard allowed them to concentrate on coachwork and the S.S. became known for rakish bodies that suggested sophistication, style and high performance. In 1935, the company made their own engine and then its first sports car. Thus the SS100 Jaguar appeared. The first saloon cars of the late 40s had pre-war undertones. William Lyons and Jaguar disrupted this convention by stealing the London Motor Show in 1948. They showed their exotic sports car with an exquisite body shape that stunned the world. Powered by a 3.4 DOHC inline-six motor, the Jaguar XK120 was an elite sports car for road use. The XK120 name was designated to the car to boast its top speed in miles per hour because it was the fastest production car in the world at that time. Offering outstanding value for money, orders flourished, leading Britain’s crucial post-war export market to America, where the fashionable roadster found demand in Hollywood. In 1954, the XK120 was succeeded by the XK140, with the numerals of the name again indicating top speed. Distinguishable exterior changes to its illustrious predecessor included more substantial front and rear bumpers with overriders and dash switch-operated turn signals mounted above the front bumper. A one-piece cast unit with fewer and broader vertical bars was introduced to the front grille, and the beautiful Jaguar badge was incorporated into the grille surround. A chrome trim strip ran along the centre of the bonnet and boot lid with the celebratory words “Winner Le-Mans 1951-3” enhancing the boot lid. The Fixed Head Coupe interior was modified to accommodate more legroom by moving the engine, firewall and dash forward by three inches. As standard, the XK140 had Special Equipment modifications from the XK120, increasing the specified power by 10bhp to 190bhp at 5500 rpm. The C-Type cylinder head, carried over from the XK120 catalogue and producing 210bhp at 5750 rpm, was optional. The XK140 was offered in three forms — coupe, roadster, and drophead coupe. This United Kingdom new Jaguar XK140 with matching numbers was imported to New Zealand in December 1962 by Robin Tubbs of the Wellington region. It was sold to Murray Motors in January 1963, later under the stewardship of Alan Freeman, and then to Roger Tremain, where it was stored for many years. John Wilkins of Bristol Motors then purchased the vehicle in Upper Hutt in 1992. It appears the registration had lapsed at some stage and was re-registered in 1993. It was with another owner for seventeen years until 2010, before passing through another two owners until it was purchased by our vendor in 2011; the ownership name was changed in 2014 but it was kept in the same family Restoration was undertaken in 2000, which included an interior refit in tan leather upholstery. The interior woodwork is in excellent order, and the rear bucket seats do not appear to have ever been sat on. The odometer is now sitting at 8,755 miles, indicating that the motor could have been redone during the restoration. A bare metal respray in British Racing Green was completed in 2022. Our vendor has enjoyed XK140 sparingly. It is accompanied by an original operating manual and service handbook. Eternally stylish, competitive and accessible, this RHD fixed-head coupe is one of only 839 ever built and is simply stunning. Personalised plate I40XK will be included in the sale.