One of the more difficult things to do when assessing the value and desirability of a vintage car is factoring in prior race history. There are numerous vehicles at any given time that have participated in some seriously cool races; however, it’s not always a guarantee of future value. The experience of using an old car to compete in a legendary race is undoubtedly worth noting, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to big bucks come sale time. This 1955 Jaguar XK140 listed here on Facebook Marketplace participated in the famous La Carrera Panamericana race, and was one of several XKs owned by its former owner that were used for racing.
You can see on the passenger fender the name “Judy Veale,” and a quick Google reveals all sorts of information. For one, her husband, Tom Veale, was the backer of numerous XK race cars as seen on this profile page on Jag-Lovers.org. The photos show that Mr. Veale owned both roadsters and coupes that were used in competitive settings. Sadly, Veale passed away following an accident involving a scooter when riding near his summer home in Lake Como, and I’m guessing his wife unloaded the race cars when she returned home with their kids. The photos on the above referenced web page show different numbers on the doors from the storied Panamericana, so it stands to reason it ran in the event more than once.
One thing that always irks me a bit when people sell race cars is how there’s sort of an assumed “history transfer” that goes along with it. I feel there should be a disclaimer where you acknowledge you didn’t actually maintain the car for racing purposes, or acquire the necessary training to participate in a grueling, multi-stage race; you simply picked it up from the estate sale. Regardless, I would feel confident based on the photos showing Tom Veale sawing at the wheel of numerous vintage Jaguar track cars on a variety of tracks would translate to the vehicles themselves being properly set up for racing – even with the obvious refurbishment required after years of dormancy.
As the seller notes, the title reflects the name of the original owners, which is almost certainly going to show Tom and/or Judy Veale. The Veales resided in Sarasota, Florida, and with the Jaguar currently residing in Nokomis, FL, it hasn’t traveled far or really had much of anything done with it since trading hands. The current seller speculates it will probably just need a “…fluid change and a battery” to run, which seems optimistic. The price has dropped a few times, going from $57,000 to $48,500, so it seems the market is speaking regardless of how intriguing its prior race history is. What value would you place on a car’s past competitive use? Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find.
Via Facebook Marketplace:
This Listing Isn’t Available Anymore
It may have been sold or expired.
I’d reinstall the missing glass and daily drive this!
You know what this thing needs to look great? ’61 Polara tail lights cut into the back fenders.
Good use for a part of one of the weirdest-looking cars ever!
Florida
Rust
Wouldn’t be something that I would place on my “must have” list, but what really cool history. I truly hope that someone will buy it and preserve it as is. Neat car.
Wouldn’t be something that I would place on my “must have” list, but what really cool history. I truly hope that someone will buy it and preserve it as is. Neat car.
Wouldn’t be something that I would place on my “must have” list, but what really cool history. I truly hope that someone will buy it and preserve it as is. Neat car.
I like the car. But this is the 1994 edition of the Carrera Panamericana retrospective event. Amazing in itself but not the stuff of history….
Now had this been a survivor of the first years of the Panamericana…..
‘94 is still 30 years ago, but I agree with you-
That Florida salt air is really doing a number on this – after a while there may be nothing left but memories.
saw the vert (yellow) in dwn twn Amherst (MA) yesterday. Parked @ the fancy coffee (day) place (nite, fancy whiskey, 15$/shot). Liken the hrd top better…
Cant tell the 120 from the 140 so may B not?
They’re all nice lookers.
Not an owner/driver for me tho. I’d look all day, even wrench for $ or pleasure. Just so there’s no BA or Whitworth spanners required~
Interesting, wonder what happened to the gear lever knob? Maybe Someone thought it worth souveniring. Questions include what modifications have been done to the wngine, how well done and how thrashed it has been..
Rebuild to original spec then drive the ass out of it and enjoy!
This XK-140 was possibly owned by Judy Veale jointly with her husband George W. Veale V. Tom Veale was George’s brother and both George and Tom participated in the La Carrera Panamericana several times. George unfortunately died in Italy as described in the article. Tom is very much alive and lives in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, near Road America Racetrack. The chief mechanic on the car was David Hinton of Heritage Motorsports and HSR fame and he lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Thanks for clearing up some odd bits from the article. There are pictures from happier times of our XK 140 Racer shown here:
https://www.jag-lovers.org/xk-lovers/gifs/veale/veale.htm
Best wishes,
Tom Veale
Hey Tom,
I’m actually looking at buying this car now, I tried e-mail you with an address from an ancient list at Jag-Lovers, but assume it’s no longer in use. Would love to get in contact about it.
Our XK 140 Jaguar (the subject of this article and auction) ran in the Panamericana in 1991 (Finished 10th in class), 1992 (Finished 3rd in Class) and again in 1994 (Finished 3rd in Class).
Note I said “Finished!” This event is a ‘war of attrition’ for vintage cars of the ’50s. In the three years, we had one flat tire and we had the battery “kill switch” fail. None of the XK 140 running gear gave us any trouble. In 1994, on the last day of the race in northern Mexico we were clocked by the Federal Highway Police of Mexico at 142 MPH. We ran that “Velocity” section from a standing start to a flying finish (about 12 miles at an average speed of ~112 MPH. We won that speed section and the one after it and took 1st place for that day’s point tally.
This car was a wonderfully sturdy and reliable race car in the Panamericana and also as a road course racer.
Best wishes to the new owner,
Tom Veale
I just saw an ad for this car on Facebook Marketplace today, 7-26-2025. The ad has some signatures of being a scam; but, not positively such. I was wondering if someone knows the owner and knows if this is not a scam. Listed as: 1955 Jaguar XK Coupe 2D
$15,000
Listed 19 hours ago in Bon Secour, AL
https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/1111358947558544/
The current owner in Alabama bought it recently from the long time owner (since 1991) in Sarasota, FL. I think it may have turned out to be more of a project than he originally anticipated.
I was the co-driver of this car along with my father and my brother, the owner. The car was sitting unused for most of the last 30 years.
Hope this helps,
Tom Veale
My email address is
oldcat61 “at” sbcglobal.net
I have photos I can attach to emails of our PanAm car.
Best wishes,
Tom Veale
Well after watching it on FB marketplace for months, the price finally got too good to pass up. Brought it home Saturday.
Final price was MUCH lower than the numbers mentioned in the article. The car took a saltwater bath about a year ago, and will need essentially a complete restoration.
Yes, the car’s race history was a big draw. And contrary to the article’s claims (“One thing that always irks me a bit when people sell race cars is how there’s sort of an assumed “history transfer” that goes along with it. I feel there should be a disclaimer where you acknowledge you didn’t actually maintain the car for racing purposes”) we are intending to return it to a full race car, as an upgrade from the current MGA race car we’ve had since 2018. Will it ever see the PanAmericana again? maybe..