In Hanover, Massachusetts, on eBay is this needs-everything 1956 Jaguar XK140MC roadster. The dealer-owner says it comes with a factory-installed C-Type head and wants $29,500 (or best offer). In today’s market, that’s going to be a stretch. We’re told virtually nothing about the car, other than that it’s a barn find, has matching numbers, and comes with a clear title. They were available with an automatic, but this one appears to be manual. The wire wheels were an option. The standard discs were good-looking, too, and required less maintenance.
The challenge for “barn find” cars like this, often seen via vendors like Gullwing Motor Club and Beverly Hills Car Club, is that they’ve been “patiently awaiting restoration” and “aren’t running at this time.” That often translates to a huge bill awaiting any buyer with visions of killing it at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.
From what’s visible, the once-glorious Jaguar is covered with surface rust from bumper to bumper, has an interior in shreds with rusty floors, and almost definitely needs its engine, transmission, suspension and braking rebuilt. It appears reasonably complete. The manager of a prominent restoration shop pointed out to me just such a derelict in his shop. He explained that he could “its former life restore,” but the owner would surely lose a fair amount of money at resale time.
This car restored is a thing of great beauty and driving pleasure. The XK140MC, built between 1954 and 1956, was the performance model. The C-Type head on the double-overhead-cam 3.4-liter straight-six added 30 horsepower, bringing it from 190 to 210. Also part of the package were two-inch H8 SUs, toughened torsion bars and dual exhausts. Could it do 140 mph? Maybe downhill with a tailwind.
The XK140 model, of course, replaced the very popular XK120, and was introduced in late 1954 as a 1955 model. Departing from the 120, there were beefier bumpers with overriders and blinking turn signals. At some expense to the 120’s exquisite exterior styling, the 140 driver got three inches more legroom.
The Roadster model was a classic British issue, with ill-fitting side curtains that leaked like a sieve. Probably, few owners drive them in the rain now, so it doesn’t matter anymore. If you wanted more creature comforts with your convertible, roll-up windows!—You ordered the luxurious Drophead Coupe, which also came with a walnut veneer dash and door cappings. The only sacrifice was to the styling—the dropheads look bulkier.
Hagerty puts the base version of the XK140 fixed-head coupe in good condition at $55,700. The MC option adds $5,000, and our car gets points for being a roadster. Values are creeping up slowly. Bring a Trailer sold a just-lovely XK140MC for $84,000 in November of last year. Still, restoration is very expensive these days, especially on cars that need just about everything.
Beautiful car that is tugging at my heart. She deserves a new life, but being the victim in the recent article about the burned shop and p1800s I’m in no position to take on the rebirth of this piece of history. It will take someone with the skills to do the job. Subbing out all the work will far exceed the value. She will be a labor of love no matter what.
I think you can spend a little more and do much much better!! Great information from Jim Motavalli!!
I agree all the snow screams rust. Unlike the p1800 replacement panels will be at least difficult to source.
Yeah, if it’s costing 30 just to buy a seat at the table the margins are pretty thin.
It could be a beautiful car though.
Pretty knackered for that kind of money-anyone who thinks 50k will see her right is dreaming unless you have extensive restoration skills. Still I truly hope someone steps up.
For the right price I would be tempted. I do have the skills, and I will rebuild the pile of ashes of my shop. But for what I can see the price is to steep.
This one might have stayed in the barn about 50 years too long. It’s an amazing Jaguar I can only imagine what it was like to listen to that Jaguar six pulling and the wind blowing around your body. Maybe someone will put it right.
I always would like to know how a car like this came to this demise…. Yes it is 70 years old however these were great when they were new and they weren’t junk! They are one of my favorite designs however, this one is a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ price for what is there. Forget a checkbook restoration, the numbers don’t work. It will be interesting if there is interest at that price!
Pie in the sky along with the ice cream!!
I’m a southern gentleman with a bit of river boat gambler mixed in. This one is in big roll of the dice.
Unless you own your own machine shop, this will cost you over $50K to rebuild before you even get to the body. I think $100K isn’t out of the ballpark and that’s doing some major work yourself. That’s the perspective of an owner of a concours XK150S.
This car deserves a full restoration but that price leaves no meat on the bone. Imagine it restored to its original glory, tooling down along an ancient hedgerow towards the local pub!
Regarding the horsepower gain; going from 190 to 210 is a 20 hp increase, not 30? Then again, I’m not familiar with the new mathematical formulas…..
I’ll return to my room and stop splitting hairs.
just make sure the brakes and lights work.. then throw a small block in this baby and drive like it is. You will never have to worry about parking lot dings or anything. Its meant to be driven..
There’s always ONE!!!
You always have to wonder why somebody lets a car like this become yard art. I hate to say it, but it may not be worth saving.
My ‘read’ of the comments is that this one would cost too much if it was free.
I like the idea of “then throw a small block in this baby and drive like it is” but how rusty is the frame? Plus considering that the entire braking system is suspect a brake upgrade would be a necessity and don’t get me started on the possible needs of the electrical system. And a decent seat would be nice as well. I think the current price is “crack pipe” as they say on the MGE.
It would be a sin to put a different heart in this hidden jewel. Let her sing her original song!!
If the front fender has a rust hole right through the center. (Which it does) Then you have to know that there is TERMINAL RUST! It used to be beautiful and fun. Now it is junk. Shame on the person that let it get this way!
It always amazes me how these expensive, elegant cars end up in this condition. This one looks like its another casualty of the New England salt which is dumped on the roads by the tonnage per mile or maybe just pushed outside and protected by a blue trarp for a few decades. Sad either way.
As far as price…I’m absolutely in agreement with the other commentators,
You’d need to buy this for $100 to be able to stay in the black after the tens of thousands needed to bring it back.
Yeah, as mentioned by many posters, only a self-guided restoration would in any way make this worth it. And even then the asking price is about 2x what it’s worth or more. My uncle had a ’59 XK150 fixed-head with the 3-carb S 3.8 engine with a later 4.2 head. He was a Jaguar mechanic so he knew how to make HP in these things. For the time it was crazy fast, and easily one of my all-time favorite cars although I would still prefer a roadster like this one.
I’ve always believed that you should buy the best example that you can afford. And if you buy a car like this because you can’t afford better, buckle up your seat belt because by the time you are done, she’ll cost you a whole lot more. Of course, some people enjoy a good challenge.
This is from a dealer. Wonder what the dealer paid for this. $5K maybe?
This exemplifies the difference between a “Barn Find” and a “Survivor”. While the barn find can be rusty and pulled from a river, a “True Survivor”, can be a well maintained, always loved Original.
One quick point: this XK-140 has had disc brakes from an XK-150 retro-fitted. In 1955-56 when the XK-140 was new, discs were NOT an option. The first sports car in the world to get discs on all four wheels was the XK-150. Given that this XK-140 had them added on later, they hurt the value a bit because they are anachronistic…and on the other hand to some they can add appeal by being better brakes…so that is one factor to mull over.
I think the wrong front brakes is the least of its problems…
Deck chairs on the Titanic….
Some cars are not meant to live forever. This former beauty is beyond help.
IF this is a real MC (interesting that they show no photos of the ID tag or the engine number – they’re both very easy to see – and that would prove numbers matching and MC status) it will be restored. They made roughly 2000 of the MC OTS across the few years that the XK140 was produced, that’s just a few hundred per year. There are people who have more money than all of us commenting combined, that’s the person who will buy this car (maybe even at the asking price – doubtful) and restore it simply because of it’s beauty and rarity. They will spend well over $100,000 to bring her back. It’s not about investment and making money for folks with that kind of jing… it’s the principle… it may even be about bragging rights.
While that is truly possible, maybe even probable, the price is way too high. The value of all Jaguars (except the best of the best) has been dropping over the last couple of years and even the best XK140 MCs are only hitting around $100,000, where they were easily touching 30% higher just 4 years ago. Based on recent sales of ones in similar condition, I can’t see this going for more than $10,000.
The seller does have a 100% rating on E-Bay and has several other Jaguars for sale, AAMOF, another XK140 MC, where they DO show the engine number and the data /ID plate proving it to be an MC and numbers matching, for $10,000 more than this one and in similar condition.
Ya gotta ask high though these days so you can get close to fair/what you want.
Is a shame to see them like this.
I think you got drophead and fixed-head backwards.
Drophead is the convertible. As in the top (head) co es down.
Fixed-head doesn’t move.
Big restoration! It appears to be complete which is a good start!
An Earl Shive paint job in re-sale red would add at least $19.95 to the value!