1956 Jaguar XK140SE Drophead Coupe
Reg – Swiss Registered Chassis S818683
The XK120 set new standards in car design and manufacture but some of Jaguar's suppliers needed time to catch up. They were not used to making lights and brakes for 120+ mph cars. It is to Jaguar's credit that it ran a development programme which continued to within months of the last XK150. When the XK140 was announced in 1954 it was essentially a Mk II version. It retained the excellent dynamics of the XK120 and its superb level of appointment and attention to detail. Engine power increased to 190bhp; there were stiffer torsion bars and improved lights, cooling, brakes and steering. The main improvement, however, was moving the engine and scuttle three inches forward which gave better handling and improved cockpit space without compromising the car's stunning lines.
On the coupés models there were additional seats for children but, nice touch, the back squabs were detachable so that an adult could use the space seated across the car. The entire range abounded with clever details such as that - the XK series is one of the few which truly merit the term 'great'. Of the three variants the factory offered, the drophead coupé was the least common and just 2,789 were made. With its permanently attached hood (the frame is a minor masterpiece) and wind-up windows, it is an ideal compromise between the more sparsely equipped roadster and the fixed-head coupé. All three models were outstanding, however, and only the most expensive exotica could match them either under real driving conditions or for kerbside presence. Taking into account reliability, refinement and sheer pleasure of driving, the XK140 was one of the outstanding cars of its day and it remains one of the greatest classic cars.
Originally delivered to the United States of America, this elegant lefthand drive example was imported to Switzerland in 2007. It was at Araphes SA, established and well respected classic car specialists, that a sympathetic restoration took place. It was not the subject of a national debt sized restoration but undertaken by professionals who appreciate the value of patina and 'feel'. The engine was taken out and rebuilt, new pistons, carburettors and ancillaries were incorporated into the project and, complete with the C-Type head, now produces an exhaust note to make the hairs on ones back stand up. The body was taken back to metal, repaired where necessary and re-painted in the original black. The hood has been replaced by a superior Mohair unit, the exhaust is now stainless steel and the wire wheels are reported to be in excellent condition by the vendor. This car has been restored with a lower case r; it took over a year and is now in excellent mechanical and structural condition. It embodies what a Jaguar is all about safe in the knowledge that this particularly rare example will not break down and still look fabulous from any angle in another 58 years.
Dieser elegante Jaguar XK 140, ein linksgelenktes Exemplar für den amerikanischen Markt, wurde 2007 in die Schweiz importiert und dort einer Restaurierung durch den Jaguar-Spezialisten Araphes SA unterzogen. Bei diesen Arbeiten wurde der Motor (mit dem C-Type Zylinderkopf) umfassend überholt, während die Karrosserie entlackt, repariert und wieder in dem orignalen Schwarz lackiert wurde. Ebenso wurde ein neues Mohair-Verdeck und ein Edelstahlauspuff eingebaut. Für den Kenner.
Estimate
€70,000-€90,000
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