"This car can be viewed in person from 14th to 18th July 2020 at our the auction site, Windsorview Lakes, Datchet, SL3 9HY
The Jaguar XK120 created a sensation at the 1948 London Motor Show. It was low and lithe, with a curvaceous envelop body and it had a newly designed dual overhead-cam six of 3,442 cubic centimetres. There was nothing else like it on the market, and in 1951, a handsome fixedhead coupé was added to the line.
For 1955, the XK120 chassis was redesigned with larger torsion bars, better brakes, and rack-and-pinion steering. The engine was given higher-lift camshafts, which had the effect of raising horsepower to 190. There were also subtle appearance changes, such as the grille being given fewer bars that were more widely spaced and full-width bumpers being added.
Moving the engine forward about three inches allowed for a roomier cockpit, but it required the relocation of the battery compartment into the front wing. The car was re-designated XK140, and two ‘Special Equipment’ variants were added, the XK140 M, which included a crankshaft dampener, wire wheels, a dual exhaust, twin fog lamps, and windshield washers, and the XK140 SE (also known as the MC), which added the big-valve cylinder head from the C-Type, raising horsepower to 210.
We are delighted to offer this matching numbers Jaguar XK140 SE fixedhead coupé, supplied from new from the factory with the legendary 3.4 litre C-Type engine. It looks outstanding in gleaming black coachwork, with door gaps which one can only dream of and is complemented with its lovely red leather interior and walnut dashboard/cappings which are in excellent condition throughout. It was first registered in the UK on 13th October 1955 which was a Thursday, presumably for a weekend delivery! Interestingly the car was delivered new to Fox’s Glaciers in Leicester on 15th October 1955 and they owned the Jaguar until December 30th 1958, when it was either sold or gifted to a Mr. Peat. Mr. Peat (who lived close to the Fox’s factory in Leicester) owned the car for just over two years before selling it to Mr. Duffin in 1961 who is still the registered keeper, the car having been SORN since his untimely death.
Even by today’s standards, this 64-year-old is no slow coach, fitted from new with the legendary C-Type engine, it enables the car to easily keep up and, in some cases, outrun modern day cars. There is no overdrive, like many supercars of the period, customers preferring a high-range rear axle for reliability, the engines have a huge amount of torque, meaning a higher rear axle suits it well. It also benefits from XK150 front disc brakes enabling it to stop as well as it goes! This is one of a mere 199 righthand drive fixedhead coupés produced with the C-Type engine (as stated in Anders Ditlev Clausager’s book: Jaguar XK140/150 In Detail.)
This outstanding example underwent a full body-off nut and bolt restoration starting in 1995, taking around seven years to complete it has travelled few miles since. Accompanying the car, are several photo albums with photos documenting the extensive works carried out, including several black and white photos dating back to 1961 showing an immensely proud Mr. Duffin shortly after purchasing the Jaguar. In the paperwork file you will find the original buff logbook, the old style V5 and current V5C registration document, a recent Heritage Certificate, several old MoT test certificates and also a current one, several Tax Discs dating back to 1958 complemented with original handbooks, oil charts and more. Very rarely do examples of this rare righthand drive British sports car come to the market and Jaguars in this exceptional condition are far and few between.
The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to Government guidelines throughout viewing and auction day."