Description
Sales information
We can say almost the same about this beautiful Jaguar XK 140 3. 4 SE Drop Head Coupe as about the Mercedes 190 SL we had the pleasure of selling a few years ago, because this car comes from the same collection. All cars were not purchased as a ready-made and perfect car, but as a restoration project. The owner is a handyman and, as a former garage owner, is plagued by the attitude that you can only be sure something is good if you have held it in your own hands. So, about fifteen years ago, after having owned various Triumps and MGs, the plan was conceived to purchase an XK 140. Then you could go for the cheapest, and therefore often with the worst bodywork, but that was not the intention. Experience teaches you the truth, and so the garage owner also knew that he had to go for the best and hardest car. He tracked down this XK, built in 1957, in Colorado, USA. It was a virtually rock-hard car that only required minimal welding. Once completely disassembled, the body turned out to be even better than expected. The professionals at Autobeitserij Holland placed the body in a bath to be stripped. Bodywork is stripped in a sodium hydroxide bath at a temperature of approximately 80° Celsius. During the stripping process in this bath, all paint, sealant, undercoating, and filler are dissolved. The average treatment time is approximately 3 days. Bodywork is derusted in a phosphoric acid bath at approximately 50° Celsius. The main properties of phosphoric acid are that it neutralizes sodium hydroxide, and after drying, it becomes a solid. It will therefore never become liquid again. Finally, to optimally protect the stripped and derusted material of the Jaguar against rust, a KTL coating was applied. The XK's bodywork was so good that Autobeitserij made a special film about it and also exhibited the car at a classic car show. We couldn't have wished for a better start to a complete restoration, in our opinion.
The owner / former garage owner definitely did not want to rush it and, just as back then with the 190 SL, took all the time in the world to get the perfect XK 140. Local companies, known to him for decades, were hired to demonstrate their expertise in engine overhaul, bodywork and spray painting. The man with two right hands did everything else himself. He handled every nut and bolt and everything was finished down to the smallest detail. The car not only had to score high in terms of finish, but of course also in terms of reliability, because the intention was to explore Europe with this beautiful classic. And that is what happened.
The Pacific Blue XK received its Dutch registration on January 13, 2012, and that year the first foreign trips were made. And they were excellent, because the XK seems to have been made for this. With some adjustments (see also the options section) to improve the comfort, for example. Beautiful comfort seats have been installed so that hours of driving are not a burden. Moreover, the original, restored, re-upholstered and then never used seats are also present. These are of course supplied with the car to keep everything original. The finish of the beautiful red leather is also excellent. For this purpose, the owner went to England especially to commission the best specialist in the field of classic Jaguar interiors to make everything perfect and as original as possible.
So we are talking about a thoroughly reliable and truly sublime driving Jaguar XK 140 DHC 3. 4 in the much sought-after SE version. Inspection using the existing original Heritage Certificate shows that the car is completely original. All numbers of body, chassis, engine and cylinder head etc. are matching. The paint and interior color are also exactly as the car left the factory. All things that are the well-known icing on the cake for the true enthusiast and connoisseur.
Because times, age, and health change, it's time, after much deliberation, to find a new owner for this exquisite Jaguar. That owner must be someone who wants to continue the passion for the legendary Jaguar brand. Someone who wants to enjoy one of the finest English classics. Someone who doesn't want the hassle of a non-original or unreliable car. Someone for whom only the best is good enough. Someone who can call themselves a bon vivant. Someone with taste and style. Can you picture yourself driving it?
We are happy to make it happen for you.
