Has anyone started keeping track of how many Jaguar XK roadsters keep popping up in West Coast garages? These had to have been one of the most popular cars of the Jet Set crowd in 1955, because every time I swear Beverly Hills Car Club can’t possibly drag another one out, up pops yet another forgotten barn find Jaguar. This one is extra special in a way due to how it’s optioned, so check out this 1955 Jaguar XK140MC roadster listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $69,950, with its special, matching numbers high performance engine still under the hood.
The XK140MC was a special order option, featuring the C-Type Jaguar’s high-performance big valve cylinder head, good for an additional twenty horsepower to raise total output to 210 b.h.p. Quicker acceleration and a higher top speed were the primary benefits, along with exclusivity and knowing your car would best any one of the hundreds of other XK roadsters seemingly driving around Los Angeles at any given time in the 1950s. This one has clearly been laid up for some time, but the seller doesn’t elaborate on exactly how far the state of decay has progressed. The Jaguar will come with a soft top frame and wire wheels.
One would hope living in California has kept the tin worm at bay, but there’s no way to be sure aside from the dealer confirming or in-person examination. While the west coast is definitely where you want to find one of these laid up in a garage, it doesn’t mean rust isn’t hiding even in seemingly solid fenders like this one. Check out behind the front wheel, down near the lower sill – is that some repair work, where that discoloration is evident? Who knows, but at one time – especially in a city where appearances are everything – this was just a used-up sports car. Still, someone cared enough to keep it garaged, and it seems likely the black-over-olive color combo could be original.
The taillight lenses have seen better days, and the trunk lid panel that looks damaged at first glance has seemingly just been left open. The seller notes the engine is equipped with dual carburetors and paired to the desirable four-speed manual gearbox. If you want a performance-oriented Jaguar XK140, this is the one to buy from an equipment-standpoint. The Special Equipment designation, matching numbers engine, and three pedals make this barn find roadster one worth bringing back to life.
I can’t zoom in on that trunk lid in the profile photo, but I believe we’re looking at a boot that’s been bashed. The whole left side of the cargo cover is wavy. And if your eye follows a line diagonally down from the badge in the center to the lower left corner I believe we are seeing the inner brace structure beginning to burst through.
You probably don’t know it was more likely than not that an XK140 was a MC.
Also, they made something like 20 times as many LHD vs RHD since the car was targeted at America.
In 1986 I immigrated from Australia with my American wife, no job, no money lived with my inlaws. Was a Triumph owner from Australia so waiting for my GreenCard I started scouting British Car repairers and at one in Hawthorne I found a XK150S DHC in the back of the garage, over a few beers it was revealed that the owner had dropped it off as a potential restoration but that was 5 years previous and never heard from him again. They said I could have it for a $1,000 if I did all the Lien Sale Paperwork, did all that and with a thousand borrowed from my FIL I was the owner of it, The police had to check the VIN to make sure it wasn’t stolen. Put an ad in Auto Trader and sold it the next week for $12,000.
I almost bought one in 1967 for about $400. It was as creaky as an old woody wagon, although it was fast for the day, and drove like nothing else on the road in 1957, but, cars improved a lot in the ten years in between, but it was still a great experience. I bought a 1960 XK 150 S instead, fixed head coupe, which was not creaky, for $300. Assuming the tin worm has not had too many bites and the crash damage did not put the frame out of whack, this would be a great car!
Good Lord, the chutzpa to offer this up for sale. I would be ashamed to admit to owning a once marvelous car which under my ownership has deteriorated into a candidate for the junk yard.
Gerard, its probably listed under an alias! Undervalued, underappreciated Jags from ’50’s-’70, have finally reached a value that almost justifies breathing life back into them. They are turning up from barns, garages, and back yards in Southern California. A lot from people that inherited them. So great that they are back!
The car is not being offered by the owner of the space that it is photographed on. It is being offered by a used car dealer that specializes in buying distressed classic sportscars, often long stashed away by owners that “were going to restore/fix it” but moved on and lost interest and perhaps passed away. The inheritors are essentially given a wreck for free and are glad to get some money for it without any hassles at a time where they may be overwhelmed settling an estate.
Love these old Jaguars and sold parts for them for many years! That said really think for that kind of money some actual useful pictures of the car would be at least something anyone could do!!! Short of pulling the car out of the garage and physically inspecting seems this guy is dreaming or trying for a fast flip and running with the money!! Jeez doesn’t take much to actually present a car properly when trying to bust that much out of folks wallet!!!