Jaguar XK 140

The Jaguar XK140 was a sports car manufactured by Jaguar between 1954 and 1957. Upgrades over its predecessor, the XK120, included better brakes, rack and pinion steering, and modern tube type shock absorbers instead of the older lever arm design. The name referred to its 140 mph (225 km/h) top speed.

The XK140 continued to feature the famous Jaguar XK engine with the SE mods from the XK120 as standard, now delivering 190 bhp (142 kW) at 5750 rpm. The special C-Type cylinder head was also carried through from the XK120 catalogue as an option, providing 210 bhp (157 kW).

With the introduction of the XK140 in late 1954 (all sold as 1955 models), the primary visual change was the more substantial front and rear bumpers, with large overriders.

Another new feature was the provision of modern flashing direction indicators, operated by a separate switch on the dash. The twin amber lights positioned above the front bumper helped to distinguish the XK140 - until XK120 owners started installing the same equipment.

The front grill was the same size as the grill on the XK120, but was now a one piece cast unit with fewer, thicker vertical slats. Above the grill was the Jaguar mascot, and a chrome strip which extended back over the bonnet. This strip continued down the centre of the boot (trunk) lid, where it contained a red shield with the words 'Winner Le Mans 1951-3' inscribed in gold.

The interior was also more comfortable for taller occupants with the addition of 3 inches (76 mm) in length. This was achieved by moving the engine forward which allowed the firewall and dash location to be relocated as well.

The new arrangement left no room for the XK120 battery compartment, and the single battery was now repositioned low down inside the wing on the inlet side, making it almost impossible to replace.

In 1956, the XK140 was the first Jaguar sports car to be offered with an automatic transmission. As with the XK120, the availability of wire wheels and dual exhausts were options although most cars imported into the United States had wire wheels.

Cars with disc wheels continued to be offered with spats closing the rear wheel arch. The XK140 was available in three body styles. A Roadster or OTS (Open Two Seater) which had a light canvas top assembly that when lowered fitted behind the seats and thus completely disappeared inside the body.

The interior of the Roadster was very sparse with no wood embellishments, but with a leather dash. Just like the XK120 Roadster, the XK140 OTS or Roadster had removable canvas and plastic side curtains on light alloy doors.

The DHC or Drop Head Coupe had a more substantial padded top that when lowered sat above and outside the body of the car, it also had a fixed windscreen (unlike the removeable windscren of the OTS).

The DHC also had roll up windows and a very elegant veneered dash, both of which featured on the FHC or Fixed Head Coupe as well. As a gesture to practicality, a jump seat was added to both coupe models.

The XK140 pictured at the top is the exact replica of the car that I owned along time ago. Mine had Burgandy interior. ( Looking at the picture more closely...that could be my old Jag. I'll have to look into where this car came from). I bought it from a fellow that I had advertised it for $1500.00

At the time I was restoring an Austin Healy 3000 (pictured at the right) that I had bought for $200.00 from a guy that was going to junk it...I don't think so. (The car pictured is not mine, but that is what it looked like).

I was nearly finished with the restoration when I saw the ad. So I called the guy and took it for a test drive. Oh man what I ride I had.

So I went home and put the Austin Healy in the paper ...I believe it sold within 2 days after the ad, and I went back to the gentleman and handed him the cash.

As I look back, I really wish that I would have held onto the car 'cause now (if you can find one) they are worth a fortune.

But being the sports car buff that I am I traded my beautiful Jag for a SAAB Sonnett III... But that is another story.

The SS100 was a British 2 seat sports car built between 1936 and 1940 by SS Cars Ltd of Coventry, England. The last one is thought to have been delivered in 1941.

In 1936 the name Jaguar was given to a new saloon car and from then on to all the cars. Following World War II, due to the connotations then attached to the initials SS, the company was renamed Jaguar.

The chassis with a wheelbase of 8 feet 8 inches (2.6 m) was essentially a shortened version of the one designed for the 2.5 litre saloon, a car produced in much greater numbers, and had first been seen in the SS 90 of 1935. Suspension was on half elliptical springs all round with rigid axles. The engine was a development of the old 2.5 litre Standard unit converted from side valve to overhead valve with a new cylinder head designed by William Heynes and Harry Weslake.

The power output was increased from 70 bhp (52 kW) to 100 bhp (70 kW). Twin SU carburettors were bolted directly to the cylinder head. In 1938 the engine was further enlarged to 3.5 litres and the power increased to 125 bhp (93 kW). The four speed gearbox had synchromesh on the top 3 ratios. Brakes were by Girling. The complete car weighed just over 23 cwt (2600 pounds, 1150 kg).

On test by The Autocar in 1937 the 2.5 litre (20 RAC hp rating) car was found, with the windscreen lowered, to have a maximum speed of 95 mph (153 km/h) and a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 13.5 seconds. With the 3.5 litre (25 RAC hp rating) the top speed reached the magic 100 mph (160 km/h) with a best of 101 mph (163 km/h) over the quarter mile and the 0 - 60 mph (97 km/h) coming down to 10.4 seconds.

In 1937 the 2.5 litre car cost GBP395 and in 1938 the 3.5 litre GBP445.[2] The coupé, of which only one was made, was listed at GBP595. A few examples were supplied as chassis only to external coachbuilders.

Widely considered to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing Jaguar cars it is also one of the rarest with only 198 of the 2.5 litre and 116 of the 3.5 litre models being made. Most stayed on the home market but 49 were exported. Cars in good condition will fetch well in excess of GBP100,000, a near concours example was sold by auctioneers Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2007 for GBP199,500.