1956 Jaguar XK140 SE FHC
Highlights
- £38,000 mechanical restoration by XK specialist Guy Broad
- Various upgrades make it perfect for classic touring
- One registered keeper since arriving in UK in 1997
- Restored by previous keeper in 1994 to concours winning standard
- Factory ‘Special Equipment’ car with A chassis prefix
- Regularly maintained and sparingly used y enthusiast seller
- Well kept and sympathetically improved XK140 FHC
The Appeal
The original XK was honed for success at Le Mans. The FHC mixed that capability with a cossetting, luxurious interior that made these cars, then and now, popular with those who like to take a trip.
Fixed head XKs make great touring cars and are a regular sight on classic car events and rallies. Including this one, which is perfect for such activities because it has been sympathetically upgraded by none other than Guy Broad, the XK expert. The modifications include power steering, a 5spd Getrag box, front discs and improved cooling. The car was retrimmed at the same time.
You wouldn’t known because from the outside this car presents as a factory standard and very lovely ‘56 FHC. And so it should - it was restored to concours-winning standard by the previous long term owner. It won at the 1994 North California America Jaguar Club meet before arriving on these shores in 1997.
Since landing here it has remained with the same keeper. He has used it sparing for events and touring across the UK and Europe, whilst investing close to £38,000 with Guy Broad in 2005. It has been carefully dry stored when not in use and regularly maintained by a local marque specialist.
The result is a car in very good cosmetic condition with excellent mechanical provenance. Certainly one not to miss.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered February 1956 in New York City
- BMIHT certificate confirms market destination and build date of November 1955
- This is confirmed by separate chassis data which shows the car was one of the last FHC LHD cars built in 1955
- Originally supplied in black with grey leather interior piped red (which it retains)
- Chassis prefix ‘A’ indicates this car left the factory with the ‘Special Equipment’ package
- Two registered keepers in last 55 years
- Previous American keeper retained it for 28 years
- He arranged its restoration in 1994
- Subsequently won the concours at North California American Jaguar Club in 1994
- Acquired by the current keeper in 1996 who imported it to the Uk and registered it here on 1st February 1997
- Mechanically restored by Guy Broad in 2005 at cost of £37,988 as documented in invoices
- This work included upgrades summarised below
- Maintained fro 1997 to 2017 by Dragons of Kensington
- Clutch replaced in 2014
- Dry stored in London when not in use
- Used regularly for classic car tours and events in UK and Europe during current keeper’s ownership
- Attended the 70th anniversary of the XK in June 2018 with plaque provided in file
- Restoration photographs for bodywork and engine work
- Old MOTs to verify mileage
- HPI clear
- HPI check shows car was previously recorded as grey which was changed in February 1997
- This may be an error as photographs from the period appear to show the car as red pre and post import
- Last MOT expired 5th December 2017 with 5,510 miles showing on test and no advisories
- As a Historic Vehicle this car is MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
- DVLA lists the car as a 3.8 but we are told it has the original factory 3.4 XK unit
Summary of Guy Broad upgrades:
- 5spd Getrag manual gearbox
- Power assisted steering
- Front disc brakes
- High power radiator
- Electric cooling fan
- Retrimmed cabin
The chassis ‘A’ prefix indicates that it left Browns Lane with the ‘Special Equipment’ (SE) package. This should not be confused with the high performance 210bhp upgrade featuring the C-Type head, often known as the XK140 SE. This alteration was available as an option under the SE package, but not always fitted. Such cars had ‘S’ chassis prefixes. The ‘A’ prefix indicates the SE package restricted to cosmetic improvements such as fog lights and wire wheels.
The Condition
- High quality paintwork resprayed in red from original black
- Paintwork presents very well with few marks to note
- Bodywork similarly well kept with very good panel fit and finish
- There are some minor scuffs to note to the driver’s side sill, none significant
- Fitted with a badge bar that recalls the car’s life in America
- Sits on chrome wire wheels which are well presented
- Fitted with classic Blockley vintage 16in tyres in good condition
- Underside presents very well with evidence of maintenance and underseal
- Chromework in good order with bright finish showing no obvious tarnish
- Retrimmed interior in factory correct grey leather with red piping
- Very well kept cabin including extensive walnut wood veneers in great order
- Headlining is well kept and appears to to be to factory correct specification
- Classic style digital radio fitted
- Three spoke Moto Lita wheel with wood rim
The style of the XK evolved to slink through the air of the Mulsanne Straight with the minimum of effort. A byproduct of this effort was the car’s considerable beauty, something that the revised styling of the XK140, with its extra chrome, merely enhanced.
The FHC is a popular choice with buyers because it is spacious and practical in a way that an E-Type isn’t. This is a car that is very easy to get in and out of. This car was restored in the 1990s to a very high standard, a fact confirmed by that 1994 concours win.
Despite the passage of 30 years since, the ministrations of the enthusiast seller - who has owned it for 27 of those years - ensure that it remains in quite remarkable condition. In that time it has had an interior retrim - in the factory correct grey with red piping - so that the cabin presents very well too.
Much of the appeal of this car is surely that condition and how it neatly disguises the desirable mechanical modifications that make it so usable.
The Mechanics
- Matching numbers 190bhp 3.4litre XK straight six engine
- Upgaded to 5spd Getrag gearbox by Guy Broadwell
- Various other mechanical improvements summarised above
- Tidy engine bay with evidence of regular maintenance
- Said to drive very well
- Regularly maintained by same garage for 20 years with thick history file
190bhp in 1956 put this XK140 in the category of supercar. It must have been quite an experience. Even today it remains potent - and perfect for the road rallies and events for which these cars are popular.
This car is fitted with the 3.4litre 190bhp motor. This but benefits form a raft of upgrades, which are have summarised above. These were installed during a £38,000 restoration in 2005 by XK specialist Guy Broad, the work detailed in invoices that you can view in the photographs. The improvements have been well chosen and sympathetically applied - they all make this big car easier to drive, more relaxing at high speeds and more reliable. It has covered around 10,000 miles since, mainly on tours and events in the UK and Europe.
Throughout the current keeper’s tenure the car has been carefully dry stored and maintained regularly by the same London specialist. It is reported to drive very well and requiring no immediate work by the buyer.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions.
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
About Max Bids
The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Anti-sniping
Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.
Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.
Auto-bidding increments
- If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
- If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
-
- Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
- We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.
| Bid Amount | Increment |
|---|---|
| £0 to £9,999 | £100.00 |
| £10,000 to £49,999 | £250.00 |
| £50,000 to £99,999 | £500.00 |
| £100,000 + | £1,000.00 |
Automatically outbid immediately
When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.
You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.
Matching max bids
When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.
Pre-authorisation
We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.
What are pre-bids?
A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.
Problem with your bid
Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.