Appearances can be deceiving. What looks like a mid-60s Maserati is instead a 1955 Jaguar XK140 Special Equipment Coupe with coachwork by Giovanni Michelotti in Italy. It’s a project now, for sale at Bonhams and set to be auctioned on February 2 at the “Les Grandes Marques du Monde” sale, held in Paris at the Grand Palais Éphémère. The auction estimate is €400,000 ($434,704) to €600,000 ($652.102).
It’s an unusual and special car, no doubt about that. We can debate whether the coachwork improves on the original—I say no—but you won’t see another one just like it. The story goes that this car was delivered new to Mrs. Jeanne Gaymard in Paris in 1955, number 286 of the standard left-drive coupes. It was damaged in an accident in 1957 and sent to Michelotti for a rebody. The designer was an old hand at this and rebodied three XK140s around this time–all very different. The car in question was sculpted in aluminum, with an Aston-Martin-like fastback roofline.
The unique Jaguar went to other owners in France, and then to Belgium. It was purchased by a Mr. Schepens in 1999. He was a coachbuilder himself, and in the mid-2000s decided to commission the restoration the car by then needed. Unfortunately, he passed away (at age 80) while the work was going on. The Jaguar then sat for a number of years and was then donated to an animal rescue center. The subsequent auction found it in the possession of Jaguar itself.
JLR reassembled it but didn’t finish it. It now has reupholstered seats, restored badges, new windows, and other details.
The engine is reportedly a racing-ready C-Type that has been in the car since the 1950s.
Although much has been done, much also remains. The paint is a rainbow of colors, with cracks for variety. The interior has those beautiful new seats, but all the instruments are out and there are wires dangling from the dash. That special engine is an unknown quality.
Obviously, this car won’t be back on the road for MGB money. It’s a job for a top restoration shop and someone with a big checkbook, but something this significant truly deserves to be brought back to top condition!
I bid $652,102
Looks like a GT6 on steroids. Same designer, I think. Have to use the imagination on this one, I can’t even find many images of the car. The dash would be stunning and the motor needs no introduction. One photo shows a longer, angled forward shift lever, but not much else. A shame he didn’t finish it, but someone in England, that still honors their past, will step up and finish it. Proof the Italians weren’t the only ones with swoopy coupes, even though it was designed there. Best of both worlds here, folks.
Photos of the car as auctioned in Monte Carlo May 13 1999 with surprisingly low estimate of € 10,000 – € 20,000. Obviously not aware of competition engine our of genuine XK 120 C type.
Find photos & description at German firm secret-classics dot com – search for Jaguar XK 140 Michelotti article 11.04.2018
Howard… I noticed the same thing…Very GT6 (I’m a GT6 owner).
Yes, Michelotti designed the GT6 and many other Triumphs at that time excluding the TR6. This design also reminds me of the Lamborghini 400GT which didn’t come out for another 12 years. I don’t believe he had any role in the design of that one though.
Would love to see this restored to it’s former glory.
I would buy it and drive it the way it is and annoy the superior human beings at Pebble Beach.
Makes you appreciate how good an original XK140 looks.
Wow, one excellent truly special combo of German/Italian design!
I love it!
One of a kind for a good reason.
Don’t find the design very balanced – the fastback is too tall and large for the long and sloping nose. Reminds me most of a Glas fastback.
True one-offs often look a bit quirky. You have to see them with the eyes of the times, which would have seen an XK140 as fusty and old-fashioned in a world where twin headlamps were the future.
I like it, personally. Not many Jags rebodied by Italian designers have worked, though Bertone did a great coupe on a tired ol D type in the early 1960s.
Michelotti was an incredibly busy bee, working through the night on cigarettes and strong coffee. His output can be patchy as a result, but always interesting.
Optistic estimate, but strange things happen at Paris Rétromobile!
WoW
whata beauty. Alu ta boot!
Love to get it w/all the “pieces parts” (frank purdue quote) needed to take from here. It would certainly keep me interested thru completion. No mods here, a straight rest0.
Funky but Chic
Lancia Aurelia speedometer/gauge cluster.
I admire much of Michelotti’s portfolio but this is not one of his better efforts.
Being very kind here.
It may well bring the estimate because of it’s one-off status, and will attract
a special buyer willing to pour a large sum into it’s resurrection.
Good luck to them.
My first impression, is this thing bent in the middle like a rusted uni-body? The pictures with the feather edging and cracks reminded me of an old Corvette that I used to have. You would have to love this thing to spend 100 G’s to restore it…
Ugly is being kind!
I happen to like what I see. It’s very much a transitional sports car, not really 1950s styling, yet not pure 1960s styling. I would love to own it, but my wallet says no!
I would be surprised if it comes anywhere near the estimated selling range, for a couple of reasons. First, because the car was factory-built as a typical LHD XK140 coupe. Second, it’s not the original engine and gearbox, and third, it was rebodied in 1957 and a different drive line installed.
Many cars at higher levels of collecting, are bought by investors who look for cars that are either original, or restored to their original condition. This car is neither. I suspect JLR realized this was probably a questionable financial investment, and rather than sink even more money in it, they decided to cut their loss.
Once it’s completed, if restored to what the car looked like on completion in 1957, this will be a lovely car, both to look at and to drive, especially with that C type drive line. While JLR reassembled the car, it will still need to be completely disassembled and the restoration started again. Hopefully the newly restored bits like the seats can be used again. I can’t think of any reputable restoration shop that would not insist on “revisiting” such things as a claimed rebuilt engine or gearbox, because it’s ultimately their reputation on the line when the car is completed.
I would be surprised if the car can be completed correctly to “Pebble Beach standards”, for under $400k. Plus, anyone willing to pay $400,000 or more at this auction would likely insist on that high level of restoration. Because of the 3 things I mentioned above, I don’t see this as having anywhere near a 7-figure value on completion.
That said, I still want/like the car, but each month my Social Security check reminds me it can’t happen!