1955 Jaguar XK140

Featured on The Market is a 1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC. The silver car is specced with a red leather interior, and it looks striking, as you can see in the photos. The 1955 car also has its chassis plates intact, but it appears to be running a non-Jaguar powertrain. Despite that, the left-hand-drive car has a lot going for it, including clean bodywork, period-correct badges, and the grace, space, and pace that only a Jaguar can offer.

Among the visual differences between the preceding XK120 and the XK140 were the more pronounced front and rear bumpers. Smaller changes like the placement of the Jaguar logo on the grille and the inclusion of a badge stating Jaguar's illustrious history at Le Mans round things up nicely. The easiest way to differentiate a stock XK120 and an XK140 would also be the low turn signals on the latter, unless the owners retrofitted those on the 120, too.

If you wanted a four-seat XK140, there were two versions to choose from: the XK140 DHC convertible and the coupe version called the XK140 FHC. The now roomier cabin also got a veneer dashboard, perfectly matching the luxurious upholstery. The rear seats are more suited to carrying small bags, but it does make the XK140 more practical, nevertheless. The example here has a red leather interior, which complements the nice (if a little understated) silver exterior. In terms of condition, like the exterior, it's clean and with some effort, can be brought closer to perfection.

It was still underpinned by the same platform as before, but a slew of mechanical updates made the XK140 more modern. And as a result, it can be a slightly better classic to live with, say the experts. The added weight might detract from the pure driving of the XK120 but with good ride comfort and power to let it cruise along, the XK140 would still make for an impressive touring machine. This 1955 example appears to have a V8 of some sort under the hood.

Available between 1954 and 1957, the Jaguar XK140 succeeded the successful XK120. It brought along updates like a rack and pinion steering system, new brakes and suspension, and even slight design changes. A little less than 10,000 cars were made across three variants (OTS, FHC, and DHC) and in both RHD and LHD versions.

As a classic car to own and run, the Jaguar XK140 has got many things perfect: it looks exceptionally good, the interior is well designed, the driving experience is unparalleled, and on the whole, it's a car worth cherishing. This 1955 example isn't perfect or stock, but it presents a chance to own a usable classic. Plus, they don't make them like they used to; think that should be a big enough reason to give it a second look, don't you think?