1955 Jaguar XK140 Coupé
Registration no. RWU 911
Chassis no. S804573
Engine no. G6654-8

Newly introduced for 1955, the Jaguar XK140 was broadly similar to, though more refined than, its sensational XK120 predecessor, major engineering changes being confined to the repositioning of the engine 3" further forward and the adoption of rack-and-pinion steering. The suspension and brakes remained much as before, though with stiffer torsion bars at the front and telescopic shock absorbers replacing lever type at the rear. Outwardly the newcomer was distinguishable by its revised radiator grille, rear lights incorporating flashing indicators and larger bumpers, the latter adopted to withstand the cut and thrust of urban parking. The power unit remained Jaguar's well-tried, 3.4-litre, twin-cam six, which now produced 190bhp in standard trim thanks to higher-lift camshafts and revised porting. To ensure reliability, steel bearing caps replaced the previous cast-iron type. A close-ratio gearbox enabled better use to be made of the increased performance and overdrive became an option for the first time. Special Equipment (SE) cars came with wire wheels and Lucas fog lamps, and could be ordered with an engine developing 210bhp courtesy of the C-type cylinder head. XK140 performance was well up to the standards set by its exemplary predecessor, contemporary road-tests regularly recording top speed figures in excess of 120mph. One of only 843 right-hand drive XK140 fixed-head coupés made, this original matching numbers example has the desirable manual/overdrive gearbox and is finished in red with attractive matching interior, the latter boasting appropriately re-trimmed bucket seats. The car has been very well maintained and used regularly. In 2009 it competed in the Rally of the Tests, sharing the concours prize for best presented vehicle. 'RWU 911' has covered approximately 10,000 miles since the engine and transmission were overhauled and has had numerous other useful modifications that do not detracted from its original character. These include seat belts, brake servo, up-rated heating system, alternator, sump guard, solid state ignition and a Kenlowe electric cooling fan. The car also comes equipped with a Brantz rally meter and clock, which can easily be unplugged and removed when not in use. In total over £20,000 has been spent over the last four years on maintenance and improvements (bills on file). Extensive documentation includes a Heritage certificate, ownership history and MoT certificates dating back to 1991. The current MoT expires in September 2014 and the car also comes with current road fund licence and Swansea V5 document.