1955 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé

Introduced in 1954, the Jaguar XK140 built upon the success of the XK120 with several refinements. The main engineering changes included moving the engine three inches forward and adopting rack-and-pinion steering from the racing C-Type. Suspension and brakes saw minor updates, with stiffer torsion bars in the front and telescopic shock absorbers in the rear. The XK140 came in three models: roadster, coupé, and drophead coupé, with the latter two providing more cabin space and occasional rear seats. It featured a redesigned radiator grille, rear lights with indicators, and larger bumpers for urban parking durability.

Under the hood, the XK140 retained Jaguar’s trusted 3.4-liter, twin-cam six-cylinder engine, now producing 190bhp with higher-lift camshafts and revised porting. Steel bearing caps replaced cast iron for enhanced reliability. A close-ratio gearbox improved performance utilization, and Laycock de Normanville overdrive became an optional feature. Special Equipment XK140s included wire wheels, Lucas fog lamps, and the option for a 210bhp engine with the C-Type cylinder head. The XK140 continued the tradition of exceptional performance, with top speeds regularly exceeding 120mph in contemporary magazine road tests.

Source: Bonhams

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