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Curated Auction

1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé (DHC)

At a Glance

Complete Restoration | ~24 Years Ownership | Desirable Mechanical Upgrades | Heritage Trust Certificate

  • Mileage~38,421 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine3.4-Litre Twin-Cam
  • LocationFrome, Somerset

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below – we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report – learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£18,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£18,000

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Video #2

Introduction

Jacob Boodrie
Professional Consigner

A beautifully restored British sports car, combining elegant styling, exhilarating performance, and timeless 1950s motoring charm.

Introduced in late 1954, the Jaguar XK140 built upon the enormous success of the XK120, refining an already exceptional sports car with improved comfort, practicality, and performance. Retaining Jaguar’s legendary 3.4-litre twin-cam XK straight-six engine, the XK140 benefited from rack-and-pinion steering, increased interior space, and enhanced braking, making it an even more capable grand tourer. Available as a Fixed Head Coupé, Open Two Seater, or the elegant Drophead Coupé, the XK140 quickly established itself as one of the finest British sports cars of the 1950s.

This 1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé represents one of the most desirable variants of the model, combining open-top motoring with the additional refinement and weather protection of a fully lined convertible hood and winding side windows. Professionally restored in 2002 and carefully maintained since, it presents as a beautifully preserved example of Jaguar’s golden era. With its timeless styling, sonorous XK engine, and strong enthusiast following, the XK140 remains one of the most collectible and rewarding classic Jaguars to own today.

Finished in British Racing Green over a tan leather interior, this XK140 is a very attractive and well-presented example.

It is immediately apparent that the car has been meticulously cared for throughout its last ~24 years of ownership. Supporting its impressive provenance is a comprehensive history file containing thousands of pounds’ worth of invoices, documenting maintenance and expenditure since the professional restoration was completed in 2002.

This listing was written from information supplied by Jacob after meeting Jeremy the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

Built for spirited touring, the XK140 Drophead Coupé delivers smooth six-cylinder performance with refinement and unmistakable Jaguar character.

Jeremy had always dreamed of owning a Jaguar XK140, and this example, sourced for him by professional restorers 'Twyford Moors', proved to be the perfect choice. He has owned the car for ~24 years, during which time it has been carefully maintained and thoroughly enjoyed, taking it on memorable touring trips throughout France and Spain.

The combination of the legendary 3.4-litre twin-cam engine, elegant styling, and traditional Jaguar craftsmanship makes the XK140 one of the most desirable British sports cars of its era. Jeremy has taken great pride in caring for the car throughout his ownership, ensuring it has always been maintained to a high standard and enjoyed exactly as intended.

You can find further information in the History and Paperwork section, and Jeremy will be on hand in the comments to answer any questions you may have.

Jeremy
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

Graceful curves, flowing wings, and classic chrome detailing give the XK140 one of the most recognisable silhouettes of any British sports car.

Wheels and Tyres

This example is fitted with Jaguar 16” wire-spoke wheels with spinners, which appear to be in great overall condition.

The wheels are fitted with Pirelli Cinturato tyres on all four corners, dated 2022 on the front. They appear to be in good visual condition, with a good amount of remaining tread and no visible cracking on the outside walls.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

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Bodywork

The bodywork appears to be in great overall condition, with panel gaps aligning visually well around the car.

As to be expected, there are some minor age-related marks, including a very small area of corrosion in the corner of the passenger door and some light scratches to the passenger door and front bumper.

We've provided more detailed observations through our high-resolution images and videos. Please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

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Paint

Finished in a timeless 'British Racing Green' during the restoration, the paintwork presents in great condition, with even colour and coverage across all panels. We did notice some small areas of scratching that would benefit from a professional detail, along with some minor chips to the side edges of both doors.

Once again, we've captured high-resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the paintwork for yourselves.

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Glass and Trim

The glass is in good condition for the car’s age, and during our visit we did not notice any obvious cracks or discolouration.

The window seals appear to be in good condition and are consistent with the overall presentation of the car. We did note an area of wear around the lower offside corner.

The chrome door handles and window surrounds also present well.

The body-coloured convertible roof presents in great condition, along with the included parcel shelf. This car was fitted with a chrome boot rack, stainless steel sill covers, chrome door mirrors, chrome door pulls, and a GB badge during the restoration.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

A beautifully crafted cabin featuring rich leather, polished wood, and period-correct detailing, perfectly complementing the car’s elegant character.

Seats and Carpets

The tan leather seats have retained their shape well over the years, with only light creasing visible, consistent with their age. The dashboard features walnut veneer, complemented by a tan leather upper dashboard, matching carpets, and coordinating door cards. These items were refurbished and reupholstered during the restoration.

The door cards and carpets present in a similar manner, showing a consistent level of condition throughout the interior.

For a detailed view of the cabin, please take a look through the extensive media.

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Dashboard

The dashboard in this XK140 shows no major damage or scuffs during our visit.

The odometer displayed ~38,421 miles at the time of consignment.

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Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The wooden Jaguar steering wheel presents in great condition, while the wooden gear selector also presents in similar condition, with both items being consistent with the overall condition of the car.

For a closer look, check out the image gallery to see the detail.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Powered by Jaguar’s legendary 3.4-litre XK straight-six, delivering smooth performance and a wonderfully engaging driving experience.

Engine and Gearbox

The heart of the XK140 is Jaguar’s legendary 3.4-litre twin-cam XK straight-six engine, producing ~190 BHP and offering smooth, eager performance that helped establish Jaguar as one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers. Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, this XK140 delivers an engaging and rewarding driving experience, perfectly suited to relaxed touring or spirited drives along country roads.

During the restoration, this example benefited from a number of thoughtful upgrades to enhance performance, reliability, and usability. These include a Stage 1 engine specification with unleaded cylinder head, twin HD8 carburettors, aluminium radiator with header tank, Kenlowe electric fan, five-speed gearbox conversion, electronic SU fuel pump, alternator conversion, brake servo assistance, and Cambridge starter motor.

On the day of our visit, we started the car from cold, and it performed well on the road. The straight-six engine idled smoothly, pulled strongly through the rev range, and ran exactly as expected.

Jeremy reports that the Jaguar starts from cold without issue and drives beautifully, with the manual gearbox complementing the characterful straight-six engine. Please take a look at the mechanical video to see the car starting from cold, being driven, and for a closer look underneath the XK140.

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Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out, Jeremy took us along some local roads. We heard no obvious knocks, bangs, or squeaks from the suspension, and overall, the car performed as expected, with no issues observed. The car benefits from uprated front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, and brake servo assistance, improving braking performance and confidence.

We cover the underside of the Jaguar in our “Mechanical” gallery section. Head over to our video section, where we’ve summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself.

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The Drive

The Jaguar XK140 is celebrated for its beautifully engineered twin-cam straight-six engine and well-balanced chassis, combining impressive performance with refined grand touring capability. Its responsive steering, supple ride, and engaging manual gearbox make it a rewarding classic to drive, while its timeless styling ensures it remains one of the most desirable British sports cars of the 1950s.

Take a look at the ‘On the Road’ video, where Jeremy takes us for a short drive.

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Electrics and Other

Jeremy reports that apart from the clock within the rev dial has never worked since restored and replacement is very difficult, he has not bothered to change it, everything else is functional and operational, consistent with the overall condition of the car.

The car is fitted with an audio/radio cassette player with speakers, fog and spot lamps, halogen lights, a Thatcham alarm, and a Tilton pedal box. The car also comes with bespoke suitcase storage, specifically designed to fit the sloping curve of the boot space.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

Professionally restored and carefully maintained, this XK140 Drophead Coupé is ready to be enjoyed by its next custodian.

This Jaguar XK140 was professionally restored by Twyford Moors, renowned specialists in sourcing and restoring Jaguar XK and E-Type models. Finished in 'British Racing Green' over a tan leather interior, this example benefits from 16-inch wire wheels and a desirable specification focused on performance, reliability, and usability. Upgrades include a Stage 1 engine specification with unleaded cylinder head, twin HD8 carburettors, aluminium radiator with header tank, Kenlowe electric fan, five-speed gearbox conversion, electronic SU fuel pump, alternator conversion, brake servo assistance, Cambridge starter motor, front disc brake conversion, and rear drum brakes.

Further enhancements include bucket seats, inertia seat belts, overmats, cassette player with four speakers, fog and spot lamps, halogen lights, Thatcham alarm, Tilton pedal box, chrome boot rack, electric screen washer, chrome trim, and bespoke suitcase storage specifically designed to fit the sloping curve of the boot space.

Please take a look through the History and Paperwork gallery to explore the servicing records, restoration photos, and invoices accumulated throughout the car’s life.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
18.08.2017 MOT 30,358
16.08.2016 MOT 28,324
11.08.2015 MOT 25,702
18.04.2014 MOT 24,896
17.08.2013 MOT 21,988
22.08.2012 MOT 20,092
18.08.2011 MOT 18,248
26.08.2010 MOT 15,472
21.08.2009 MOT 11,344
15.08.2008 MOT 9,849
28.08.2007 MOT 6,970
12.08.2006 MOT 5,294
19.08.2005 MOT 2,708
VIEW ALL
Key Details
  • Model XK140 Drophead Coupé DHC
  • Transmission Manual
  • Reg. Date 29.03.1955
  • First UK Reg Date 01.09.2002
  • CC 3442cc
  • Mileage ~38,421 on clock
  • History Present
  • Colour British Racing Green
  • Interior Colour Tan
  • Interior Trim Leather
  • Chassis # S807058DN
  • Engine # G7435/8
  • Restored Yes
  • Engine Rebuild Yes
  • MOT No. Exempt
  • MOT Exempt Yes
  • Road Tax Exempt Yes
  • HPi Clear Yes - All Clear
  • Former Keepers 0 in UK
  • Tyre Brand Pirelli
  • Security Sys Thatcham
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Private
  • Owned ~24 years
  • Key Feature Restoration
  • Vehicle Registration LAS 825
  • Driver’s Side Right
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Body Type Convertible
  • Auction ID 3886
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Frome, Somerset

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    Auction Bidding

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    Current Bid £18,000
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    1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé (DHC)
    AUCTION STATUS RESERVE NOT MET
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    Auction Ends Thu 20th Aug at 7.00pm
    Bidding History
    Previous Bids  2
    £18,000 bid by buncombe06.08.26 @ 10:35:14
    £2,000 bid by MERV05.08.26 @ 19:39:59
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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a XK140 DHC like this is £TBC via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Summer 2026.

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    Vehicle Location

    Frome, Somerset

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