Highlights

£38,000 mechanical restoration by XK specialist Guy Broad
Various upgrades make it perfect for classic touring
One registered keeper since arriving in UK in 1997
Restored by previous keeper in 1994 to concours winning standard
Factory ‘Special Equipment’ car with A chassis prefix
Regularly maintained and sparingly used y enthusiast seller
Well kept and sympathetically improved XK140 FHC

The Appeal

The original XK was honed for success at Le Mans. The FHC mixed that capability with a cossetting, luxurious interior that made these cars, then and now, popular with those who like to take a trip.

Fixed head XKs make great touring cars and are a regular sight on classic car events and rallies. Including this one, which is perfect for such activities because it has been sympathetically upgraded by none other than Guy Broad, the XK expert. The modifications include power steering, a 5spd Getrag box, front discs and improved cooling. The car was retrimmed at the same time.

You wouldn’t known because from the outside this car presents as a factory standard and very lovely ‘56 FHC. And so it should - it was restored to concours-winning standard by the previous long term owner. It won at the 1994 North California America Jaguar Club meet before arriving on these shores in 1997.

Since landing here it has remained with the same keeper. He has used it sparing for events and touring across the UK and Europe, whilst investing close to £38,000 with Guy Broad in 2005. It has been carefully dry stored when not in use and regularly maintained by a local marque specialist.

The result is a car in very good cosmetic condition with excellent mechanical provenance. Certainly one not to miss.

The History and Paperwork

First registered February 1956 in New York City
BMIHT certificate confirms market destination and build date of November 1955
This is confirmed by separate chassis data which shows the car was one of the last FHC LHD cars built in 1955
Originally supplied in black with grey leather interior piped red (which it retains)
Chassis prefix ‘A’ indicates this car left the factory with the ‘Special Equipment’ package
Two registered keepers in last 55 years
Previous American keeper retained it for 28 years
He arranged its restoration in 1994
Subsequently won the concours at North California American Jaguar Club in 1994
Acquired by the current keeper in 1996 who imported it to the Uk and registered it here on 1st February 1997
Mechanically restored by Guy Broad in 2005 at cost of £37,988 as documented in invoices
This work included upgrades summarised below
Maintained fro 1997 to 2017 by Dragons of Kensington
Clutch replaced in 2014
Dry stored in London when not in use
Used regularly for classic car tours and events in UK and Europe during current keeper’s ownership
Attended the 70th anniversary of the XK in June 2018 with plaque provided in file
Restoration photographs for bodywork and engine work
Old MOTs to verify mileage
HPI clear
HPI check shows car was previously recorded as grey which was changed in February 1997
This may be an error as photographs from the period appear to show the car as red pre and post import
Last MOT expired 5th December 2017 with 5,510 miles showing on test and no advisories
As a Historic Vehicle this car is MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
DVLA lists the car as a 3.8 but we are told it has the original factory 3.4 XK unit

Summary of Guy Broad upgrades:

5spd Getrag manual gearbox
Power assisted steering
Front disc brakes
High power radiator
Electric cooling fan
Retrimmed cabin

The chassis ‘A’ prefix indicates that it left Browns Lane with the ‘Special Equipment’ (SE) package. This should not be confused with the high performance 210bhp upgrade featuring the C-Type head, often known as the XK140 SE. This alteration was available as an option under the SE package, but not always fitted. Such cars had ‘S’ chassis prefixes. The ‘A’ prefix indicates the SE package restricted to cosmetic improvements such as fog lights and wire wheels.

The Condition

High quality paintwork resprayed in red from original black
Paintwork presents very well with few marks to note
Bodywork similarly well kept with very good panel fit and finish
There are some minor scuffs to note to the driver’s side sill, none significant
Fitted with a badge bar that recalls the car’s life in America
Sits on chrome wire wheels which are well presented
Fitted with classic Blockley vintage 16in tyres in good condition
Underside presents very well with evidence of maintenance and underseal
Chromework in good order with bright finish showing no obvious tarnish
Retrimmed interior in factory correct grey leather with red piping
Very well kept cabin including extensive walnut wood veneers in great order
Headlining is well kept and appears to to be to factory correct specification
Classic style digital radio fitted
Three spoke Moto Lita wheel with wood rim

The style of the XK evolved to slink through the air of the Mulsanne Straight with the minimum of effort. A byproduct of this effort was the car’s considerable beauty, something that the revised styling of the XK140, with its extra chrome, merely enhanced.

The FHC is a popular choice with buyers because it is spacious and practical in a way that an E-Type isn’t. This is a car that is very easy to get in and out of. This car was restored in the 1990s to a very high standard, a fact confirmed by that 1994 concours win.

Despite the passage of 30 years since, the ministrations of the enthusiast seller - who has owned it for 27 of those years - ensure that it remains in quite remarkable condition. In that time it has had an interior retrim - in the factory correct grey with red piping - so that the cabin presents very well too.

Much of the appeal of this car is surely that condition and how it neatly disguises the desirable mechanical modifications that make it so usable.

The Mechanics

Matching numbers 190bhp 3.4litre XK straight six engine
Upgaded to 5spd Getrag gearbox by Guy Broad
Various other mechanical improvements summarised above
Tidy engine bay with evidence of regular maintenance
Said to drive very well
Regularly maintained by same garage for 20 years with thick history file

190bhp in 1956 put this XK140 in the category of supercar. It must have been quite an experience. Even today it remains potent - and perfect for the road rallies and events for which these cars are popular.

This car is fitted with the 3.4litre 190bhp motor. This but benefits form a raft of upgrades, which are have summarised above. These were installed during a £38,000 restoration in 2005 by XK specialist Guy Broad, the work detailed in invoices that you can view in the photographs. The improvements have been well chosen and sympathetically applied - they all make this big car easier to drive, more relaxing at high speeds and more reliable. It has covered around 10,000 miles since, mainly on tours and events in the UK and Europe.

Throughout the current keeper’s tenure the car has been carefully dry stored and maintained regularly by the same London specialist. It is reported to drive very well and requiring no immediate work by the buyer.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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