1956 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupé
Time-warp example in single family ownership since purchased from the first owner in 1965

Registration No: WAU 532
Chassis No: 804598
MOT: Exempt

• Time-warp example with a fabulously well-preserved original interior
• Factory-finished in its current colour scheme of Cotswold Blue over a Dark Blue Leather interior
• One of just 843 examples built to home-market, right-hand drive specification
• In the ownership of the current family since it was purchased from the first owner in 1965
• Supplied with a thick history file including period servicing receipts and both the buff and green continuation log books
• Warranted by the vendor to have covered the indicated (at the time of consignment) 70,331 miles since new

Introduced in 1954, the Jaguar XK140 shared the same bewitching silhouette as its XK120 predecessor but was more accommodating and better to drive thanks to an enlarged cabin and rack-and-pinion steering. Powered by Jaguar’s legendary, Le Mans-proven 3.4-litre XK DOHC engine allied to either manual or automatic transmission, the newcomer was reputedly capable of over 120mph. Available in Roadster, Drophead Coupé and Fixed Head Coupé guises, the latter featured a wooden dashboard and two-plus-two seating.

Without doubt one of the loveliest XKs we have set eyes upon, this 1956 XK140 owes its survival in such well-preserved condition to just three owners. The first, from January, 1956, was Reginald George Baird of Nottingham, who kept it in continuous use. In September, 1966, it passed to a gentleman from Loughborough, in whose family it has remained ever since. The present owner officially acquired it in 1996, although invoices suggest he had been caring for it since the early 1980s.

Still wearing its factory-applied colour scheme of Cotswold Blue with a Dark Blue interior, the Jaguar was resprayed in the 1990s but the interior remains outstandingly original. In the present family ownership, it has benefitted from much maintenance combined with extremely light use. Maintenance history is traceable to 1970, when the Jaguar received a light engine overhaul. A more comprehensive overhaul was undertaken by Sporting Cars of Beeston, which included the fitment of a replacement cylinder head. A vast collection of invoices reveals much additional work over the years, including fitment of a stainless-steel exhaust pipe in 1988. In 2022, the twin SU carburettors were overhauled with parts supplied by Burlen, and new front brake cylinders were purchased from the David Manners Group.

In 1971, the Jaguar’s mileage stood at 55,000, but by 1997 it had increased to only 65,000. Its use really declined from the mid-1980s, and its present mileage is just a shade over 70,000, which is well-supported by MOTs. Despite being so sparingly driven, the car has rarely been out of use, and the MOT collection runs back to 1969. Offered with a substantial history file including the original buff and green logbooks, historic V5s and the current V5C, copious invoices and MOT certificates, technical articles, wiring diagrams, the SU Carburetter Type H Tuning, Adjusting and Servicing Instructions, plus a 1965-66 tax disc and spare keys, this supremely original and period-correct XK really is one for the connoisseur.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430