This Jaguar XK 140 with Ghia body was at the Paris Motor Show in 1956. Now the car has been auctioned off – a lot of work included.
On Sunday 10 October in Knokke-Heist, auction house Bonhams auctioned off a Jaguar XK 140 coupé with Ghia bodywork that was exhibited during the 1956 Paris Motor Show. Later, its owner raced the rare coupé. Now it brought in 287,500 euros including buyer's premium. This corresponds to the value of two to three well-preserved Jaguar XK 140 Fixed Head Coupé (FHC) with works body.
One reason for the high price could be the fact that Ghia only provided four Jaguar XK 140s with an identical coupé body. The shape is reminiscent of Italian sports cars of the time and is more in line with the modern technology of the XK 140. Its bodywork was reminiscent of pre-war models - and above all the technically simpler predecessor.
Sports car with 190 hp and a top speed of 200 km/h
An XK 140 was a very fast car in its day, and its in-line six-cylinder can still inspire today. The S version of the Jaguar had an engine with a displacement of 3.4 liters and an output of around 190 hp. Sufficient for a top speed of 200 km/h. At that time, a Morris Minor or VW Beetle did not run much faster than 100 km/h.
The Ghia body not only brought a new look, but also a weight advantage due to the aluminum sheets used: There is talk of 100 kilograms saved. The car now for sale with chassis number 810827DN was bought by an industrialist from Lyon on December 12, 1955 and had it brought to Ghia in Turin. In August 1956 the owner showed it during the Concours d'élégance in Cannes and in October 1956 the new body coupe was at the Paris Motor Show.
Has been in a garage since 1979
Apparently the front grille was changed twice: before the appearance in Paris and after an accident that the coupé suffered in 1959. One of the next owners, who bought the car in 1969, installed a 3.8 liter engine from an XK and raced it variously in the 1970s. According to Bonhams, he probably drove the car every day until 1979 and then parked it in a garage. Currently the body obviously needs some work and under the hood is a 3.8 liter six-cylinder from a Jaguar Mk IX.,
Conclusion
Even if it doesn't look as new as it did at the Paris Salon, this Jaguar XK 140 with Ghia body hasn't lost its charm - but it has lost its original engine and some attachments, which should be quite difficult to find again.
