Lot 238: 1955 Jaguar XK140 Fixedhead Coupe - The former property of Ex Aston Martin works driver - Noel Cunningham-Reid

The XK140 was introduced in October 1954 at the London Motor Show as the successor to the XK120. Under the bonnet the XK140 had the superb six cylinder 3.4 litre engine which was basically the same as the Special Equipment XK120 unit, and thus capable of producing 190bhp at 5,600rpm, compared to the 160bhp of the standard XK120. Like the XK120, however, the XK140 had independent front suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear. The XK140 sold very well with orders flooding in. This was for two reasons: firstly due to the excellence of the old XK120, which had won so many peoples' hearts; and because of the enormous success Jaguar was enjoying in international motor racing, winning Le Mans in 1951 and 1953 with the C-Type and in 1955, 1956 and 1957 with the D-Type. Jaguar build records show that WNK 843 was manufactured on 20th December 1955 and dispatched from the factory on 28th February via Henlys to Jaguar dealers Acland and Tabor in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. The first owner is registered as Major Robert Cunningham-Reid. In fact the car was for his son Noel who had significant success as an Aston Martin works driver, winning the Nurburgring 1000 Kms in 1957 with Tony Brooks. Recent correspondence with Noel Cunningham-Reid and the vendor led to the discovery that Archie Scott-Brown once drove him to Aintree and back in this car. Cunningham-Reid has also confirmed that the car was modified by the factory with a Reuter reclining seat on the driver's side along with the driver's foot well featuring a cut out heel well to provide room for his oversized feet! Subsequently the car spent most of its life in Norfolk where at some point WNK 843 received the two tone paint scheme of British Racing Green over Silver Green. The car has been known to have rallied at some stage before being taken off the road. WNK 843 remained in good shape and has been upgraded to make the car suitable for the XK race series or as a fast road/rally car. Work was carried out by Jaguar engine specialist Keith Fell of HRG Engineering. The engine now boasts a hardened and polished crank, wide blade conrods, Guy Broad competition cams, a unique 'banana' freeflow exhaust with a straight through stainless steel system, D-Type cam covers breathing to an alloy catch tank, a sealed cooling system, HD diaphragm clutch and HD in-line fuel filter. Power is fed through a Guy Broad 5-speed 'box with hardened steel half shafts. To reign in this performance discs are fitted all round. Attention has also been paid to the handling of the car with Koni classic shocks all round and fully poly bushed front suspension and solid rack mountings. The interior is totally original except for new woodwork and is finished in maroon with a great patina. WNK 843 has been used for track days and continental rally's over the last few years and can hold its own with modern traffic or an E-Type around Goodwood. Supplied with WNK 843 is a V5 document, current MoT certificate, buff log book and heritage certificate.