One to Buy: ex-Paris Motor Show 1 of 4 built 1955 Jaguar XK140 Ghia Coupe Speciale
With a little over 12,000 units built, Jaguar’s XK120 was the most commercially successful top flight sports car of the late 1940s / early 1950s.
Six years after the XK120 prototype had made its debut, the revamped XK140 came on stream which most notably featured improved suspension and steering, wider wheels, a more powerful engine and a subtly updated body and interior. As before, customers could specify one of three off-the-shelf body styles: an Open Two Seater (OTS / Roadster) or the more luxuriously equipped Fixed Head Coupe (FHC) and Drop Head Coupe (DHC).
However, should a customer want special bodywork, Jaguar were also open to the occasional supply of naked chassis which were dispatched to the buyer’s coachbuilder of choice.
On May 25th, one of these rarely seen special bodied XK140s will be going under the hammer at Broad Arrow Auctions’ Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este sale: chassis 810827DN:
The first of four XK140s that received aluminium bodywork by Ghia of Turin, this group followed a trio of earlier XK120s that had also been clothed in Ghia’s trademark avant garde fashion.
Upon completion, chassis 810827DN was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in October 1955. Soon afterwards it was involved in a minor front end collision that necessitated some slight re-shaping of the grille prior to its subsequent appearance at the Cannes Concours d'Elegance in August 1956.
In 1959 the car is believed to have undergone further modification by Ghia following another light prang. At this point the grille was enlarged and dual Lucas fog lights added along with front fender vents.
Chassis 81087DN remains in unrestored condition having been stored since 1979.
Reprinted below is Broad Arrow Auctions’ description:
Chassis No. 810827DN
Engine No. NE1365-8
The first of four cars bodied in period by Carrozzeria Ghia
Equipped with an upgraded 3.8-liter engine with a D-Type cylinder head and Dunlop disc brakes
Previously owned by Jaguar historian Roland Urban, the founder and former President of the Jaguar Drivers Club of France
Following the success of the XK 120 was the XK 140. Continuing with many of the same styling cues of its predecessor, Jaguar offered customers a rolling chassis that independent coachbuilders then outfitted. Building upon Giovanni Savonuzzi's three “Supersonic” XK 120 designs, Ghia applied the same eye-catching styling to the XK 140, with this very car being the first of just four created.
The Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate shows that the car was manufactured on 25 January 1955 as a left-hand drive chassis without bodywork. The car was sent to Delecroix, Paris, France where it was purchased by the wealthy industrialist Hans Altweg of Lyon, France, specifically to rebody the car with custom coachwork.
Bearing almost no resemblance to the original Jaguar design, the Ghia body featured a new one-piece wraparound windshield, revised side glass design, modernized single piece body design without large sweeping fenders, wide grille, and totally redesigned hood.
Once Ghia completed its work, the striking aluminum body resulted in substantial 100-kilogram weight savings, compared to its original steel body.
The car was ready to be shown at the 1955 Paris Motor Show in October. Following this showing, it was involved in a minor front-end accident, and the grille was reshaped before it was shown in August 1956 at the Cannes Concours d'Elegance.
Noted by Anders Ditlev Clausager in Jaguar XK 140/150 in Detail, the car was involved in a minor accident in 1959 that resulted in the front-end styling being updated to its current configuration, with its large grille, dual Lucas fog lights, and additional vents being added to the front fenders. The work is believed to have been completed by Ghia at the request of Jean-Louis Berthelot-Mariat of Lyon, France with the express interest of enhancing the car's capabilities on rallies and hill climbs.
In 1969 the car was acquired by noted collector, Jaguar historian, founder, and former President of the Jaguar Drivers Club of France, Roland Urban. Under his direction, the engine was upgraded with a 3.8-liter unit equipped with triple Weber carburetors.
Later improvements included a D-Type cylinder head and Dunlop disc brakes. This increase in power paired beautifully with the lightweight coachwork to make it a fierce competitor during the numerous outings it was used on, even winning a race at Monza according to prior research.
After seeing regular use through 1979, the car was placed into storage, remaining there until it was purchased by the current owner in 2021. Offered as a fascinating piece of Jaguar history, this XK 140 Ghia Coupe offers a compelling opportunity for any Jaguar enthusiast to resurrect an intriguing coachbuilt Jaguar with racing pedigree.
