2007-07-17 22:07:08 | Chip Keener writes:

I've owned the car for 14 years, and finally am in position to leave it with the pros at Classic Jaguar in Austin for restoration. As I can't warm to the original Lavender Grey ... intention is to finish it in Pacific Blue, w Grey interior & Blue hood, and paint the wires to match the body. I did not get an engine and transmission with the car so no chance on matching numbers. I have been conflicted between staying original, or "upgrading". Changes include ... a CJ5 speed gear box ... electronic ignition ... an E-Type pan and oil pump ... a high performance aluminum radiator (Texas heat !) ... front disc brakes ... as the rear axle is shot, have opted for a 150 axle and disc brakes on the rear as well. All the replaced components will be saved and made presentable. I incidentally purchased 2" SU sand cast carbs a number of years ago in anticipation of the project. The block will be bored and sleeved, but I don't intend to build a "racing" engine.

2007-07-18 06:49:39 | Peter Ingram writes:

Only nine earlier LHD 140 Roadsters are known to still exist. S810002DN is also believed to be in Austin Texas

2011-04-25 22:05:18 | Bruce 'Chip' Keener IV writes:

The restoration is finally complete after five years (and to my satisfaction - perfect). The steelwork & paint job are flawless. I have intentionally opted for subtle refinements to make the car more driveable ... front & rear disk brakes (150 rear axle & brake servo) ... Koni shocks ... poly performance bushings from Dee Engineering ... XK140 radiator from Ron Davis Racing ... CJ5XK gearbox based on the Tremec T-5 251 ... vintage 2" sand cast carburetors ... spin on oil filter conversion with pressure release bypass ... XK150 oil pan ... gear reduction starter ... Delco alternator ... vintage race buckets from Guy Broad ... British Autowood steering wheel ... stainless exhaust ... and several other less obvious refinements.

2014-05-06 23:34:48 | Chip Keener writes:

In the early 90's I was determined that I would own an XK140 OTS (open two seater). The appeal was as much for the race history of the early XK's (LeMans winners five times through the early 50's) as for the classic lines ... but I was in no position to afford a restored car. To be certain the opportunity would not pass me by, I purchased a derelict and hung on to it for fifteen years until I could afford to pace my way through a five year restoration. Though I am a reasonably competent "wrench turner", I have no skills with body work, paint, or interiors ... and certainly not the expertise necessary for the metal fabrication required. In scouting a credentialed shop with talents specific to the early Jaguars I was led to Dan Mooney of Classic Jaguars in Austin.

The car was in deplorable shape when I bought it from Joe Egle in Kansas City in 1992 ... in boxes & bags, missing many of the parts, and rotten with rust. The story from Joe Egle was that the car had had an engine fire in the late 60's and was dismantled with intent to restore (Joe Egle was on the title from 10 April 69). Through the Heritage Certificate it was established that Charles Hornburg of LA was the distributor, and the original owner was Orrin D. Dodge Jr of Buhler Kansas. In a directory search on the web I was able to connect with O.D. Dodge's widow, Mary. 'Bud' (as he was known to his friends) had passed away in 2002, but Mary was able to connect me to a close friend in Vancouver, Washington ... and they have passed to me original pictures of the car and the original Kansas plate. Bud was in his early 20's when he acquired the car. They were farming folk who had the good fortune of finding oil on their property.

The original color is documented as Lavender Grey ... interior was Biscuit with Red piping ... the top was Fawn (confirmed to Mary by Bud's son). Bud's brother informed that Bud had a minor accident in 1966 or 1967 and took it to Salinas for repair. It is understood to have been re-painted red at that time. It appears likely that Joe Egle bought the car from Bud.

Of the 3356 XK140 OTS's delivered, 550 are documented to survive. This is the 9th delivered of the surviving LHD cars (6th of the US cars). It is a special equipment 'MC' car (denoting a high performance 'C-Type' cylinder head, fog lamps, twin exhausts, windshield washer, and a collection of engine refinements). The car has been restored with subtle upgrades to improve safety, handling, and reliability (e.g. disc brakes, modern 5 speed gearbox, high performance radiator, and electronic ignition) ... though it remains 100% Jaguar. It has been finished in proper (and more flattering) XK140 colors - Pacific Blue, Grey leather and Blue hood.
The SU H8 2" sand-cast carburetors were a particularly desirable option with race history dating to the XK120's. The race buckets would have been an option (and pretty much a necessity for anyone more than 6' tall ... I'm 6'3").

With the upgrades, 'Fiona' (as we call her) competes in the modified division of the Jaguar Club of North America ... twice National Champion (2011 & 2012)