The Gentleman’s Racer – Jaguar XK140

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Chris Pollitt

Once again, we found ourselves looking through the listings on Car & Classic only to find yet another car to lust after. But as you’ll hopefully agree, we were right to do so. This is a 1955 Jaguar XK140, but it is one with a cheeky, racy secret. While the wire wheels and metallic paint serve to paint a picture of a car for idle Sunday meanders through the countryside, that’s actually not what this Jaguar is about. No, this is a snarling race car full of shouting carburettors, roll cage, straight through exhaust and an unhinged need for speed. This isn’t Last of the Summer Wine; this is the Fast and the Furious.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 front

The Jaguar XK140 arrived in late ’54 before going on sale in ’55. As the name would suggest, it was a successor to the XK120. The 140 was sharper to look at, more responsive to drive and more comfortable to be in. While it largely retained the overall aesthetic of the 120, the 140 was just that bit tighter in its design. Sharper and cleaner thanks to revisions to the grille and badges, as well as the front and rear bumpers. Under the skin, the engine was shoved forward some three inches, making the car far more comfortable for taller drivers while the 3.4 straight-six DOHC engine was geared up to offer more performance with power outputs of 190 or 210bhp. Yes, the XK140 was a worthy and welcome successor to the already popular XK120.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 rear

Look closer at an XK140 and you’ll spy something interesting. The emblem on the boot lid not only says the Jaguar name, it also proudly carries the line “Winner Le Mans – 1951-3”. That’s because the XK model had competition in its blood, and Jaguar was keen to remind the world of that fact. After all, successful racing sold cars back then, so it would have been rude not to.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 badge

The car you’re looking at here was registered on the 29th of October 1955 and it did not, you might be confused to hear, become a race car. Instead, the fixed-head coupe 140 was used for what you’d expect of a ‘50s Jag – cruising around and looking good. In fact, it did that for 46 years. It was only in 2001 that the racing aspirations of this particular car were realised.

The then owner needed something fast and something with pedigree if he was going to race in the XK Challenge. This car fit the bill, and so it was passed to the talented hands of Trevor Groom who set about converting this established road car into a racer without compromise.

This meant upgrading the suspension to AVO adjustable struts, adjustable torsion bars were fitted for extra stiffness and the exhaust was changed for a straight-through item. Under that long, curvaceous bonnet, the 3.4 DOHC engine was fitted with a high-compression cylinder head that had been polished and ported, the carbs were upped to 2” SU items while at the rear, the differential was swapped out for a 3.3:1 ratio with limited slip mechanism. Oh, and of course the gearbox was upped to a four-speed but with competition overdrive in readiness for those long Le Mans straights.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 transmission

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 carb

Once completed, the car was pushed into immediate competition use, and after 46 years of sedate driving, it was clearly thrilled to be let off the leash. It took second in class in its debut season, but then went on to be the overall winner in ’02. But it wasn’t done yet, as it soon found itself competing at Le Mans in the Classic in ’04 and ’06, it raced at Spa, Zandvoort and Criox, too. Proof, then, that old cars don’t get tired, they get faster. Or at least they do if Trevor Groom gets his hands on them!

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 engine

As the car now stands, in the workshop of Anthony Godin Cars, it is enjoying an open-ended hiatus from racing. Although don’t think it’s retired, because it’s not. The FIA paperwork is present and correct and valid until 2026. It’s only stepping away from the track due to it looking for a new owner, and there’s little to suggest it won’t find one soon. the Godin team have lavished the attention upon this old cat, refreshing the paint and giving it a general tidy and fettle, it’s now fighting fit once more. Clearly nobody has told this car it’s over 60 years old, because it doesn’t look it!

When we stumbled upon the advert for this XK140, we considered doing a short piece on it, maybe Classified of the Week or something. But then we pondered; what would this old girl be like to drive today, so with that thought buzzing around our heads, we made the call and asked if we could have a go. And as it turns out, we could.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 louvres

Standing in front of the car, we’re immediately taken by how small it is. Proportionally, it’s an odd duck what with the squat body and long bonnet, but as a car on its own, it’s not a big machine. But that’s good, as the smaller it is, the less it weighs, and the less it weighs, the faster it is. And that’s what race cars are all about.

Looking closer at the car, you have to hunt out the details that give the game away. Visually, this XK140 is very much in road trim. The fresh metallic grey paint is period perfect and with no stickers or livery on the flanks, it looks like any other XK140. But then, peeking through the rear side windows, you see the roll cage and harness bar. Look at those long wings and the pull toggles fire extinguisher and electricity shut-off protrude with purpose. Around the front, the word ‘tow’ hides under the grille, complete with arrows indicating where the marshals need to look if this big cat ends up in the litter.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 towing eye

Step into this XK140, and still the true intentions of the car are hidden for the most part. There’s a fire extinguisher in the passenger foot-well, and there is no ignoring the cage behind you, or harnesses. But other than that, it’s all business as usual. Acres of wood, that giant three-spoke steering wheel, the read leather seats. It’s like sitting in a country club. Though as soon as you start it up, that notion goes out of the window.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 roll cage

First, we turn on the ignition and wait for the fuel pump to prime, then we press the starter button and immediately fall in love with the wondrous sound of the straight-through exhaust. It’s raspy, but with a deep undertone. So much of a glance of contact with the throttle raises the pitch of the pipes, in turn showing the car’s eagerness to be unleashed.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 pedals

The clutch is surprisingly light we notice as we engage first, and with it the car doesn’t fight or embarrass us as we pull away. It does so with ease and willingness. Out on the road, we work it up through the gears and fall in love it some more. The noise, no a heady mix of exhaust and engine and we push through the revs, is captivating and addictive. We let off the throttle just so we can press it again. And as we do, we realise that this isn’t just a fast car for 19fifty-something, it’s a fast car in 2019. It pulls through the gears and hunts the horizon with modern-day urgency.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 cut off switch

Through the bends the steering is direct and responsive thanks to the XK140’s rack and pinion setup. It’s light, too, but not so light it sacrifices driver involvement. As for the brakes, well, they’re still drum all-round, which is wonderfully period correct, but they’re also somewhat vague until they have a decent amount of heat in them. For us, we’d look at going for a disc conversion providing it didn’t interfere with any class regulations in racing.

Jaguar, Jaguar XK140, XK140, XK120, XK150, classic race car, XK140 grille

This car truly is a wonderful thing. For us, there’s something undeniably cheeky about an old car with racing aspirations, and this XK140 embodies that fully. It’s so wrong, but also so right. We love it, and if it were our money, we’d probably keep it as is and just use it like this on the road. But sadly, it’s not our money, though it could be yours. At £76,995 we think this car represents tremendous value, be that as a race car or a road car. If you do buy it, we’ll be more than happy to let you lend it to us!

 

 

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