2014-08-17 20:42:36 | XK Data writes:

The record was updated:

2017-03-17 10:45:04 | Mark Adams writes:

My brother in law, Bill Vidal, bought this car in pieces from a garage in Chiswick. He paid £1000. We brought it back via the A1 and I rode with the trailer driver to show him the way home. I think it must have been mid '80's. He delivered it to my parents house in Warsash, near Southampton. I started with a body-off rebuild. The front of the car was in good condition. The roof frame was rusty and the material was in very poor condition. I left it that way, although the whole car had been sprayed with grey primer. I could see the original colour was silver but there were signs of re-sprays everywhere.

Anyway, the chassis was blasted locally for for about £20 and I attempted some repairs to the rear sections, which were pretty bad. I bought some exhaust pipe sections from a motor factor in Southampton, some new shock absorbers, (£10 for 2 for the front, red ones so I thing Koni), and gaiters, bushes etc for the front suspension. Most bits were easily available because factors and, even, main Jaguar agents, were trying to clear their shelves of unwanted stock!

I didn't exactly rebuild the engine. I did take off the head and sump, thoroughly cleaned the sump interior but it was actually very clean. I checked the oil pump, (bit worn), boxed-up the engine, cleaned the 2 1/2 carburettors, bought numerous tappet shims from a local Locksheath Jaguar Independent, (can't remember his name now), and, well, the engine ran very nicely, even without all the exhaust pipe parts!
I tried to re-bush the steering rack but I had no access to line-boring. (Not quite true; I did have but at a cost and, as I was a lowly 2nd Engineer working on dredgers out of the Itchen river and was funding the rebuild and running a girlfriend at the same time, money was tight. The steering was tight too when I reassembled it and, slowly, I grew a little dispirited! I got even more so when I approached one of the only tin-smiths in England who had the skills to make rear end panels from scratch. He lived in the New Forest. Anyway, his quote for the parts to rebuild the rear of the car was over £3k. I didn't have the money and neither did my brother in law. So he decided I should sell it. I did, to a gent who very disparagingly offered $800 for the whole car. He had sold his previous XK rather than give half to his wife as divorce settlement. I would like very much to see photo of the car now as I have been looking out for it at shows and in the JEC mag, without results. Good luck to owns it now, even if it is still the guy who bought it for £800!

2023-08-19 07:37:21 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 8/23

www.iconicauctioneers.com/1955-jaguar-xk140-rec12679-1-silverston-0823

Auction description:

Lot Number 740

JAGUAR XK140

Registration Number DHF 28

MOT Expiry Exempt

Chassis Number 807170

Engine Number G-4036-8

Transmission Manual

Body Colour Indigo Blue

According to its Heritage Certificate, this right-hand drive, XK140 DHC was completed on 16/06/1955 finished in Dove Grey with Tan leather and a Fawn hood. It was despatched on 24/06/1955 to Belle Vale Service Station (now Henlys, Manchester) prior to being delivered to its first owner, a Leo McParland of Wallasey who registered it as DHF 28 on 27/06/1955.

From the helpful ownership history provided with the car, we can see that in 1978 it was purchased by a Mr Adams who commenced what was to be an extended restoration. One further owner followed before DHF became the property on 03/03/1986 of Edward Billins who picked up the reins of the restoration and handed the car over to the Marina Garage in Southampton.

Some 14 years later, the restoration was still not complete and, for whatever reason, ownership of the Jaguar passed to the Marina Garage. The final chapter of this long-running saga commenced in 2010 when the XK was purchased by the Beaulieu Garage, also in Southampton, and according to the file it was “running but required the trim and woodwork finishing”. This was obviously done as there is an invoice in the file from 2010 for £9,437 detailing a full retrim, new hood and associated fittings. There are a number of further invoices in the file including one for £5,000 for labour in 2011 and we assume this relates to the Jaguar being refinished in a deep coat of Indigo Blue.

DHF 28 was purchased by our vendor in June 2011 and has been enjoyed since then being maintained and upgraded in-house by his experienced engineers. A substantial invoice from October 2014 details a full engine rebuild with a new clutch, the installation of a 5-speed T5 gearbox, power steering kit and upgraded cooling fan. (the original parts have all been retained in the interests of returning the car to standard. Next to the XK150S Roadster, the right-hand drive XK140 drophead is the second most rare of the XK range and this stunning dark blue example with chrome wire wheels and a crisp grey and blue interior is one of the best we have seen.

2023-10-01 08:22:11 | pauls writes:

Car returns to auction 11/23

www.iconicauctioneers.com/1955-jaguar-xk140-rec12884-1-nec-1123

Auction description:

The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale 2023

1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé

Beautifully restored in the past and on offer from diligent, long-term ownership.

GUIDE PRICE: £80,000 - £100,000

JAGUAR XK140

Registration Number DHF 28

MOT Expiry Exempt

Chassis Number 807170

Engine Number G-4036-8

Transmission Manual

Body Colour Indigo Blue

Otherwise same as above