Unfortunately no history is explained in the listing for this XK140 coupe; I would be very interested in knowing how a car of this stature ended up parked in a shed while remaining remarkably intact and complete. It’s listed for sale here on eBay where there’s a pretty steep $19,500 asking price but perhaps the seller recognizes that because lower offers are welcomed. The car is located in Bloomingdale, Georgia.
The XK140 addressed many of the shortcomings of the XK120, including more legroom and room for very small children behind the front seats. I find it interesting that the rear accomodation is said to be good for a single rear passenger — what were they thinking the position of that person would be? Across the cushions?
The car appears surprisingly straight and even has less rust that I would expect. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are issues, but there’s nothing in these pictures that completely scares me away. The car also comes with a clear title, which is another good sign.
There’s still beauty in those curves. And yes, I’m pretty sure that is the battery you see right behind the tire.
I was truly surprised at how intact the interior appears. I don’t even see any rodent shredding of the upholstery (I guess they are all on our property…). Who knows, if you can get the musty smell out, it might actually clean up and be usable! Ok, Jamie, step away from the perpetually half-full glass and try to focus on the half-empty one.
Everything looks complete under here, too. I’m thinking someone pulled the plugs to try to free up the engine; I can’t come up with any other reason the spark plug wires would all be off. But it’s nice to see the air cleaners and carburetors still in place and pretty much everything else where it should be. Could the car be restored? Absolutely. Is it worth it? NADA has them priced at $49,100 to $122,900; I suspect if you paid for it to be professonally restored you would lose money. But for a dedicated home enthusiast, it might be the right car! Let us know what you think!
Overpriced at free.
I bought a Corvair a few years back, and it must have been an apartment building for building for generations of mice; the smell was sickening. On a very breezy day, always working upwind, I gloved up, opened the doors and windows,stripped out everything that was not fastened down, threw in a bunch of leftover charcoal brickettes, then put very many short evergreen branches on top of everything, placed 4 mousetraps on the floor, closed it up, and left it for about 10 months. It was very much improved, to the point that I could bring it into the shop and open the windows.
Definitely most the bits are there, and Jamie is right. To make economic sense
You would have to do the lion’s share of the work yourself. That’s assuming the chassis isn’t swiss cheese. Not many folks know you could order disc brakes on these towards the end of the run. So, they can be upgraded here.
There is a make an offer option and $15K might get it.
@Uncle Ed
I guess you’re trying to be funny but don’t really understand. .
I would agree, you can run the math on this and decide this car is not a viable restoration candidate…… but probably there’s thousands of dollars of usable parts there.
if someone wants to give me this car for free…..I’ll take it.
Are there 20 thousand dollars in parts? Not so sure, especially when you have to recondition the trim and interior pieces. And I can only imagine the smell. This is not my brand, but I’ve made the mistake of buying similar condition 60’s Pontiacs. I imagine if the drivetrain is somehow viable (it was parked for a reason, right?) there may be some value there.
C-type head
https://youtu.be/ZKtFIgmoqoI
The price is absolutely unrealistic. I would try at about half or less and then give it to someone who knows these cars. I would be North of $75,000.oo
at that point and it would probably go for more at an Auction, which I dislike.
“Whoo boy!” The gentleman wearing gloves says it all. What component of a restorers health is going to be compromised tending to this parting out or recommission.? It’s almost ready to return to the earth from where it originated from. Simply not worth the effort, all said and done, although I understand the sellers dream of its value, in consideration of the fact, someone will love it. Maybe….
My XK 140 book has a pic of Jags publicity chap sitting in the back seat across the cushions. Looks particularly uncomfortable.
I think the cost of wood work repair and reupholstering would be eye watering and would need a professional.
Beautiful!
My XK 150 S was a joy to drive (when it ran). The problem with this car, is, if you restored it, it would be worth so much that you would not drive it much, if at all. I learned my lesson on this from a friend who had an exquisitely restored MG TD (much better than factory issue) which just sat in his garage since he was afraid to drive it since it might get dinged by a piece of gravel, or rained on, or some other tragedy would ruin its “perfection”.
The gentleman will likely get the asking price because the car is complete (and not terribly rusty). The asking price is fsir compared to others on Ebay, etc. I good idea of any car’s value is the auction site “Bring A Trailer”. It is NOT a Ford or Chevy. It is a collectable XK140…not a Caprice or likewise! Jamie is correct again in being objective.
Richard, thanks for straightening all of us mouth breathers out on the brand of car. We are simple here and don’t know the difference between Jaguars and Fords, Chevy’s and Caprices! There are few Fords! and Chevys! that I would not rather have than this POS.
Sorry to sound bent out of shape, I just hate snobs.
OK, for those who think the $40K XK120SE is over-priced, here´s what you get for $20K ask. Cost of restoration is the same (probably more on 140fhc than 120 roadster), but the XK120SE.s value at end will be heavily more than the $20K price difference. That still doesn´t mean you will be in profit.
Not saying that this 140fhc doesn´t have its upsides, but that there´s more to it than the asking price.There were more 140fhcs than 120SEs, the prices are lower so it would be much cheaper to buy a good one than restore this. The rarity of the XK120SE changes the proposition to an extent, it may be a car for a well-funded enthusiast to do a soup to nuts restoration on, rather than buy one done.
Is this an AUTOMATIC?? If so, let it rot!
As automatics from the early 50’s go, Jag used a good one, very little slip and slush compared to most, I think it was a Borg Warner.
The seller never mentions the automatic, and there’s no clear picture of the shifter. I wonder if the seller is hoping an eager buyer doesn’t notice! I can’t imagine that an automatic equipped old Jag is worth restoring.
Kenn, you win dumbest and most off topic comment. I love all old cars, but there is no way to save them all. I think if someone says a car is only valuable because it is not a Ford! or a Chevy! that they may have a little snob in them.
I once went with a friend to look at a 120 coupe in similar condition in a similar shed. Too far gone I told him, but I did snap up the close ration trans that was laying beside the car!
It would take a very talented home restorer to tackle an XK in this kind of shape and the alternative is a very talented – read expensive! – professional.
That said, there is a lot there and it could be done. It would have to be a labor of love though, because you would be upside down pretty quickly. At $5k I would look at.