2026-08-16 09:25:45 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 8/26

www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/jaguar/1955-jaguar-xk140-dhc-2/

1955 Jaguar XK 140 Drophead Coupe

Trade Classics - Online, UK

6 - 20 August, 2026

Lot 3886

Reg. Date 29.03.1955

First UK Reg Date 01.09.2002

CC 3442cc

Mileage ~38,421 on clock

History Present

Colour British Racing Green

Interior Colour Tan

Chassis # S807058DN

Engine # G7435/8

Restored Yes

Engine Rebuild Yes

MOT Exempt Yes

Road Tax Exempt Yes

HPi Clear Yes - All Clear

Former Keepers 0 in UK

Security Sys Thatcham

Sale Type Private

Owned ~24 years

Key Feature Restoration

Vehicle Registration LAS 825

Driver’s Side Right

A beautifully restored British sports car, combining elegant styling, exhilarating performance, and timeless 1950s motoring charm.

This 1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé represents one of the most desirable variants of the model, combining open-top motoring with the additional refinement and weather protection of a fully lined convertible hood and winding side windows. Professionally restored in 2002 and carefully maintained since, it presents as a beautifully preserved example of Jaguar’s golden era. With its timeless styling, sonorous XK engine, and strong enthusiast following, the XK140 remains one of the most collectible and rewarding classic Jaguars to own today.

Finished in British Racing Green over a tan leather interior, this XK140 is a very attractive and well-presented example.

It is immediately apparent that the car has been meticulously cared for throughout its last ~24 years of ownership. Supporting its impressive provenance is a comprehensive history file containing thousands of pounds’ worth of invoices, documenting maintenance and expenditure since the professional restoration was completed in 2002.

This example is fitted with Jaguar 16” wire-spoke wheels with spinners, which appear to be in great overall condition.

The wheels are fitted with Pirelli Cinturato tyres on all four corners, dated 2022 on the front. They appear to be in good visual condition, with a good amount of remaining tread and no visible cracking on the outside walls.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

The bodywork appears to be in great overall condition, with panel gaps aligning visually well around the car.

As to be expected, there are some minor age-related marks, including a very small area of corrosion in the corner of the passenger door and some light scratches to the passenger door and front bumper.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in a timeless 'British Racing Green' during the restoration, the paintwork presents in great condition, with even colour and coverage across all panels. We did notice some small areas of scratching that would benefit from a professional detail, along with some minor chips to the side edges of both doors.

Once again, we've captured high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the paintwork for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The glass is in good condition for the car’s age, and during our visit we did not notice any obvious cracks or discolouration.

The window seals appear to be in good condition and are consistent with the overall presentation of the car. We did note an area of wear around the lower offside corner.

The chrome door handles and window surrounds also present well.

The body-coloured convertible roof presents in great condition, along with the included parcel shelf. This car was fitted with a chrome boot rack, stainless steel sill covers, chrome door mirrors, chrome door pulls, and a GB badge during the restoration.

Interior

A beautifully crafted cabin featuring rich leather, polished wood, and period-correct detailing, perfectly complementing the car’s elegant character.

Seats and Carpets

The tan leather seats have retained their shape well over the years, with only light creasing visible, consistent with their age. The dashboard features walnut veneer, complemented by a tan leather upper dashboard, matching carpets, and coordinating door cards. These items were refurbished and reupholstered during the restoration.

The door cards and carpets present in a similar manner, showing a consistent level of condition throughout the interior.

For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look through the extensive media.

Dashboard

The dashboard in this XK140 shows no major damage or scuffs during our visit.

The odometer displayed ~38,421 miles at the time of consignment.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The wooden Jaguar steering wheel presents in great condition, while the wooden gear selector also presents in similar condition, with both items being consistent with the overall condition of the car.

For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

Mechanics

Powered by Jaguar’s legendary 3.4-litre XK straight-six, delivering smooth performance and a wonderfully engaging driving experience.

Engine and Gearbox

The heart of the XK140 is Jaguar’s legendary 3.4-litre twin-cam XK straight-six engine, producing ~190 BHP and offering smooth, eager performance that helped establish Jaguar as one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers. Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, this XK140 delivers an engaging and rewarding driving experience, perfectly suited to relaxed touring or spirited drives along country roads.

During the restoration, this example benefited from a number of thoughtful upgrades to enhance performance, reliability, and usability. These include a Stage 1 engine specification with unleaded cylinder head, twin HD8 carburettors, aluminium radiator with header tank, Kenlowe electric fan, five-speed gearbox conversion, electronic SU fuel pump, alternator conversion, brake servo assistance, and Cambridge starter motor.

On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road. The straight-six engine idled smoothly, pulled strongly through the rev range, and ran exactly as expected.

Jeremy reports that the Jaguar starts from cold without issue and drives beautifully, with the manual gearbox complementing the characterful straight-six engine. Please take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, being driven, and for a closer look underneath the XK140.

Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out, Jeremy took us along some local roads. We heard no obvious knocks, bangs, or squeaks from the suspension, and overall, the car performed as expected, with no issues observed. The car benefits from uprated front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, and brake servo assistance, improving braking performance and confidence.