1956 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupe

Built from 1954 until 1957, Jaguar’s XK140 offered all the beauty and performance of the original legendary XK120 sports car with the added benefit of numerous improvements, all of which make the 140 even more enjoyable behind the wheel.  Changes included a more powerful version of the legendary straight-six engine, rack and pinion steering and, thanks to the relocated engine, additional space inside the cockpit.  With lines that can still take one’s breath away, William Lyons’ curvaceous styling was largely unchanged other than the addition of full-width bumpers and some additional brightwork.  Jaguar continued to offer three different body styles, including the luxurious drophead coupe, sporting roadster and practical fixed-head coupe as offered here.  The XK140 is a real thoroughbred, powered by one of the most remarkable engines ever built and remains a delight to drive even in modern traffic thanks to the ample torque from the 3.4-litre straight six.  Developing 190 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 210 lbs/ft of torque in standard form, the XK unit propelled the 140 to a top speed of 120mph and Special Equipment models fitted with the C-type cylinder head were capable of even higher speeds.  The gearbox was a four-speed manual unit with 3.19:1 overdrive optional, as denoted by the ‘DN’ suffix on the chassis number.  Just 2,808 XK140 fixed-heads were built, the vast majority destined for the American market making any right-hand drive configured car something of a rarity.  Jaguar’s XK sports cars have always been amongst the most sought after 1950s sports cars, offering stunning looks, performance and style at a price that seems downright affordable when compared with more exclusive rivals like Aston Martin.