Description
- Highly desirable XK140 SE Drophead Coupé, originally built as a right-hand drive Special Equipment model
- Extensively restored and thoughtfully upgraded by renowned specialists Twyford Moors, including a chassis-off restoration and a suite of carefully chosen enhancements for improved performance, usability, and modern road use
- Exceptionally well-documented and well-used example, with over 50 European tours, long-term enthusiast ownership, and a comprehensive history file supported by extensive invoices, correspondence, and more
Introduced at the 1954 London Motor Show, the Jaguar XK140 represented a natural and considered evolution of the XK120, refining an already celebrated formula while retaining the elegant, flowing styling that had defined Jaguar’s post-war success. Beneath the familiar silhouette lay a number of important mechanical advancements, most notably the adoption of rack and pinion steering, which brought a marked improvement in precision and driver engagement, together with the introduction of telescopic shock absorbers in place of the earlier lever-arm units, greatly enhancing both ride comfort and roadholding. With the engine and bulkhead moved three inches further forward, Jaguar was able to create a more spacious and usable cabin, with the Fixed Head and Drophead Coupé variants offering occasional rear seating, further broadening the car’s appeal as a grand tourer.
Available in Standard, Special Equipment, and Special Equipment with C-type cylinder head configurations, the XK140 offered outputs ranging from 190bhp to 210bhp, delivering strong, flexible performance through its smooth and robust XK straight-six engine. Capable of well over 130mph, it remained one of the fastest and most accomplished sports cars of its day, reinforcing Jaguar’s growing reputation on the world stage and building on its remarkable success at Le Mans in the early and mid-1950s.
Manufactured on 5 April 1955 as a right-hand drive Special Equipment (SE) model, less C-type head, and finished in Pearl Grey with a Dark Blue piped Red interior and Blue soft top, this Jaguar XK140 SE was exported new to Charles Hornburg dealers in the USA.
By the 1970s, the car had been converted to left-hand drive, and by the early 1990s it was reputedly a restoration project in the United States. It was subsequently purchased and repatriated to the UK by its new owner, Patrick Robson, in September 1995, and entrusted to respected XK specialists Twyford Moors Classic Cars of Clanfield, Hampshire, for a complete chassis-off restoration. Over the next two years, the car was fully rebuilt and completed, being delivered to the customer in March 1997 at a cost of £47, 647. 31.
Finished in Jaguar Imperial Maroon with a contrasting Biscuit leather and vinyl interior, and a matching Burgundy hood, the car was reinstated to its correct right-hand drive specification and benefited from a number of sensible upgrades for modern road use, as specified by Robson, including:
-A ported and polished C-type head converted for unleaded fuel
-Full disc brake conversion with servos
-Getrag 5-speed gearbox
-Koni shock absorbers
-Stainless steel exhaust
-Electronic ignition
-Power steering
-Alternator
-Sealed cooling system with Kenlowe fan
-1¾-inch SU carburettors
-XK140 bucket seats (a factory option)
-Alteration of the rear compartment to include locker space
-Fabrication and trimming of a centre armrest
-Custom overmats
-Spot lamps with halogen bulbs
-Laminated windscreen glass with electric screen washers
-Immobiliser and tracker
-Manual choke switch
-Inertia seatbelts
-Kenwood stereo system with dual-magnet speakers
-Stainless steel kick plates
-Chrome boot rack
The cost of these additions totalled £7, 758. 31.
Robson’s attention to detail throughout and following the restoration can be seen in a significant collection of handwritten notes and emails detailing various snags, with further expenditure recorded in 1999 when the car benefited from a number of additional works, including an engine overhaul, upgraded carburettors to 2-inch sand-cast H8 units, fettling, and further refinement of various minor issues.
Following its restoration, it would be an understatement to say this particular example was well used and enjoyed, taking part in over fifty tours across many European countries and winning numerous prizes along the way. The car became somewhat “famous” within XK circles, featuring in numerous articles and interviews, to the point that Twyford Moors once joked they wanted to repaint the car simply to demonstrate they had built two to the same standard.
Following 21 years of ownership and enjoyment, Twyford Moors sold the car in 2016, when it was acquired by the current owner on 19 May.
Since purchase, RSY 492 has continued to be enjoyed as intended. It has been maintained as required by Twyford Moors, and more recently by well-regarded local specialists Thornley Kelham. With expenditure of just under £29, 000 during current ownership, the car has been consistently maintained to a high standard. Notably, it received a replacement mohair hood and carpet set in November 2018, new engine mounts, steering rack mounts, and a radiator in November 2019, a cylinder head rebuild in February 2022, and its most recent service in April 2025.
Following a decade in current ownership, this wonderfully specified and meticulously maintained XK140 is reluctantly offered for sale with Klasiko due to mobility issues, presenting an exceptional opportunity for anyone seeking to both enjoy and drive a truly well-sorted example.
Accompanying the vehicle is an impressive history file spanning three folders. This includes a complete record of the car’s restoration and subsequent maintenance under previous ownership with Twyford Moors. The second file contains a significant collection of handwritten notes and correspondence between the previous owner and Twyford, along with further invoices, snag lists, maintenance records, and a large number of previous MOT certificates, V5C documents, and associated paperwork. The final file comprises a substantial collection of invoices, receipts, MOT certificates, and the current V5C document, which shows two former keepers.
Overall, a well-travelled, highly specified, and excellently maintained Jaguar XK140 SE Drophead Coupé—offered for sale as one of the most compelling opportunities for anyone looking not only to acquire, but to enjoy, a truly usable classic.
