Lot 386
1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé
Registration no. TPO 601 Chassis no. 807210 Engine no. G4297-8
27 June 2014, 14:00 BST
Chichester, GoodwoodSold for £163,900 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Collector Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Tim Schofield
Senior Specialist, Head of Department, UK
Client Services (UK)
Shipping (UK)
One of only 479 examples
1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé
Registration no. TPO 601
Chassis no. 807210
Engine no. G4297-8
1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé
Registration no. TPO 601
Chassis no. 807210
Engine no. G4297-8
Footnotes
One of only 479 right-hand drive XK140 drophead coupés made, this example was manufactured in June 1955 and delivered via Henlys Ltd, London finished in Battleship Grey with Gunmetal hood and red interior trim. The car was retailed by W Jones & Sons and first owned by one Harold Sinclair of Arundel Sussex. Its accompanying JDHT certificate confirms that the XK140 retains matching chassis, body, engine and gearbox numbers.
The current vendor purchased 'TPO 601' from the Twyford Moors dealership around 12 years ago and immediately commissioned marque specialists Leaping Cats to undertake a bodywork restoration, having stripped the XK down to a bare bodyshell and chassis. 'TPO' was collected some weeks later as a completely restored and lead-loaded bodyshell, ready for repainting. On return to the vendor's own professional motor body repair workshop, the chassis was sand blasted and painted black. The bodyshell and all other panels were then repainted in ICI Jaguar Indigo Blue, and the bodyshell and all chassis box sections treated with cavity wax protection.
The engine, gearbox and rear axle had been sent to Mike Ball of Beacon Garage at Gringley-on-the-Hill for overhaul, and on their return were reinstalled in the rolling chassis. All suspension parts had been cleaned and repainted in black. The newly painted shell was then lifted back onto the rolling chassis. All the instruments and woodwork had been sent to Mike Tilman at Jagbits for overhaul and re-veneering, and were then refitted together with an all new wiring loom, etc. At the same time a Becker Mexico audio system, Clifford alarm system and Track Star tracking system were fitted.
During the rebuild at the vendor's body shop, all exterior trim was stripped and repainted or re-chromed prior to being refitted to the car. With completion approaching, 'TPO' was transported to Mick Turley at MCT in Nuneaton for them to re-trim the car in Saville Grey leather together with blue piping, grey carpets and a dark blue hood. As a specialist body shop, the vendor's company had a full 4-wheel steering geometry system, so all the XK's steering angles were checked and adjusted by shims as required, resulting in a car that this is extremely precise to drive.
Since the rebuild's completion in 2007, the vendors have thoroughly enjoyed various touring holidays with their XK140; none more so than the Jaguar Enthusiast Club's North American tour taking in Route 66, on which the car clocked up little under 3,000 miles without incident. In May 2013 'TPO' was used in the making of Saville Row tailors Gieves & Hawkes' film promoting their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection, which involved filming on location in Yorkshire. The vendors received a cheque from Gieves & Hawkes for £500, which was made out to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a charity that they, and 'TPO', have supported on various occasions to raise funds and awareness.
Described as in generally excellent condition, this well restored XK140 is offered with its original logbook, sundry restoration invoices, current MoT/tax and V5 registration document. Apart from those mentioned above, the only notified deviations from factory specification are front disc brakes and alternator electrics.