Lot 225: 1955 Jaguar XK140 Competition Coupé

Although it had not been designed with racing in mind, the Jaguar XK sports car’s competition potential was immediately obvious, not least to the factory, which entered a three-car team of XK120s in the Daily Express one-hour race for standard production cars at Silverstone in August 1949. The XK’s of Leslie Johnson and Peter Walker duly rewarded Jaguar’s faith in its new sports car by finishing first and second respectively, thus setting the scene for an illustrious competition career that would result in the development of the legendary Le Mans-winning C-Type and continue with the succeeding XK140 and XK150 models.
Attractively finished in Ecosse Blue with grey/black interior, this competition-prepared XK140 is offered fresh from a complete ‘chassis up’ rebuild of coachwork and mechanicals undertaken for the 2005 season. Its specification highlights include a seam-welded chassis, alloy doors, floors and gearbox tunnel, and a lowered engine. A Dave Butcher-prepared 3.8-litre unit equipped with triple SU carburettors, the latter is mated to a four-speed E-Type gearbox (with extended lever linkage) via a triple-plate clutch. The running gear also has been extensively modified, featuring rack-and-pinion steering (lowered in the chassis), up-rated front anti-roll bar, fully adjustable AVO shock absorbers, 4-pot front and XJ6 rear brake calipers, and Dana-rebuilt back axle. Other noteworthy features include an up-rated water pump, special radiator and header tank system, and Mallory twin distributor. Eligible for a wide variety of historic motorsport classes and events - including the JEC Challenge, HSCC, HRS, Top Hat, etc - the vehicle is described by the private vendor as in very good condition throughout and offered with old-style logbook, current MoT/road fund licence and Swansea V5 registration document.