The Jaguar brand’s global recognition was significantly influenced by the XK series. This range essentially catalyzed success for the British automaker in the aftermath of World War II. The remarkable triumph of the XK120 opened doors for the development of the more sophisticated XK140 model.

Source: Hemmings

After the resounding success of the XK120 introduced in 1948, the XK140 replaced its stellar predecessor in 1954 with an initial output of 190 hp, which was then increased to 210 hp. Interestingly, most of the produced cars found their owners in the USA, where they were especially popular. The engine of the exported models had a C-type head, 2-inch H8 carburetor, heavier torsion bars, and twin exhaust pipes. Smooth lines, a comfortable interior for taller drivers, and a 3.4-liter engine designed by William Haynes made it a sought-after trophy for style and speed lovers. Interestingly, in the USA the model was called the XK140 MC (in the UK it was designated as the XK140 SE).

The origins

Source: WallpaperUp

The 140th appeared in 1954 as an upgraded Jaguar XK120. It was more powerful (190 hp) with a new 3442 cm3 inline 6-cylinder engine, even though its maximum speed did not reach the declared 140 mph. Moreover, in addition to the standard version, the company also produced a high-performance modification – the XK140 SE (in the USA – XK140 MC), which was equipped with a 210 hp Jaguar C-Type racing engine with dual exhaust. Other differences from the XK120 included increased interior space on the same 102″ wheelbase, replacement of the lever telescopic shock absorbers, and the rack and pinion steering. The overdrive version received a 4-speed manual transmission. Later, in 1956, a   Borg Warner automatic transmission with a steering column selector was added to the options list. The design of the 140th also differed from its famous predecessor. It had one-piece front and rear bumpers with vertical fangs, turn signals, and a cast grille with fewer vertical bars. Jaguar offered three body types for this model: Open Two Seater (OTS), Drophead Coupe (DHC), and Fixed Head Coupe (FHC). The roadster featured a removable canvas top with plastic side windows, a leather-trimmed dashboard, and doors without external handles. The convertible and coupe had a wood veneer instrument panel and a small extra seat in the back. In total, the company sold 9051 XK140 from 1954-1957.

The 1954 model year

Source: Tudor and Black

The 1954 model debuted at the London Motor Show in October. As an improved version of the XK120, the 1954 release received better brakes, steering, and suspension. It was equipped with an improved (shortened and simplified) box-type Mark V chassis. To give the driver more room, the model’s front bulkhead had been moved forward 3 inches compared to previous editions of the XK series. Telescoping rear shocks instead of link arms increased the 1954 edition’s handling. The model also received 12-inch Lockheed drum brakes and a half-inch wider than the XK120 rims. Crossply Dunlop tires were standard, and Pirelli Cinturato radial wheels were available as an option. In technical terms, the 1954 edition received the latest version of the Jaguar six-cylinder inline engine, which, even after 6 years after launch, was competitive in the market. This engine had a cast iron block and an aluminum alloy head with two overhead camshafts. The transmission was through a Moss four-speed manual gearbox. Compared to the XK120, the 140th had several changes in appearance. The most obvious change was the larger bumpers. Moreover, it was full-sized at the front and a quarter of the bumper at the rear. Also, the 1954 car had larger doors, which made it easier to access the cab. Round, flashing turn signals were fitted above the front bumper, and new taillights were added at the rear. The grille was unchanged but cast as a single unit.

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Source: CarBuzz

Recently, the Beckhams’ offspring Brooklyn received a truly luxurious wedding gift from his celebrity parents. It was a completely restored 1954 Jaguar XK140, fitted with a massive electric engine instead of the original 190 hp 3.4-liter inline 6. The car was upgraded by Beckham’s EV company Lunaz.

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The classy and elegant XK140 was a continuation of the popular XK120 model. As the first production vehicle to reach a top speed of over 130 mph, it was a true milestone in automotive history.

Source: Classix.se

As a highly remarkable sports vehicle for its time, XK140 was widely admired for its performance, handling, and design. Some of the key reasons why the XK140 was so outstanding included its performance (it was one of the fastest production vehicles of its time), exceptional handling, beautiful design, and advanced technical equipment. Moreover, the model proved to be a very successful racing automobile that won several renowned racing competitions. The automobile also featured several luxury and performance options, such as power steering, overdrive, and disc brakes, which helped to make the roadster more attractive to buyers looking for a high-performance sports vehicle with a touch of luxury.

The origins

Source: Classic Digest

The XK140 appeared in 1954 as a replacement for XK120. The roadster was offered to customers in three versions: a coupe, a two-seater roadster, or a convertible, which was distinguished by the most luxurious interior trim. The new model, compared with its predecessor, received a 3.4-liter engine with increased power. In addition, the standard version developed a power of 190 hp. The automobile received rack and pinion steering, and the transmission could be chosen from three options: four-speed manual, automatic, and manual with overdrive in top gear. Externally, the model differed from the XK120 in its one-piece front and rear bumpers with vertical fangs, the presence of turn signals, and a cast radiator grille with fewer vertical bars. The convertible and coupe had a wood veneer instrument panel and a small extra seat in the back. In total,  9051 Jaguar XK140 were sold from 1954 to 1957.

The 1957 model year

Source: Barrett-Jackson

1957 was the final year of the production of the model. It was powered by a 3.4-liter inline 6 engine with an overhead camshaft design producing 210 horsepower. The powerful engine was paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The exceptional performance of the roadster included a top speed of approximately 201km/h (125 mph). Moreover, the automobile could accelerate from 0-96 km/h (60mph) in around 8 seconds. The unibody construction, independent front suspension, and live rear axle helped to improve the car’s handling and ride quality. The use of rack-and-pinion steering also improved the car’s handling, making it more precise and responsive to driver inputs. This type of steering used a rack – a toothed bar, that run along the length of the steering column, and a pinion, which was a small gear that meshed with the rack. The car also featured a sleek and modern body design, with a long hood and short rear deck. The interior of the automobile was quite luxurious, with leather seats, and dashboard, and wood trim. Moreover, the 2,800 pounds roadster had a roomy cabin, and it was considered comfortable and well-appointed. In 1957, around 2,500 automobiles were produced. Overall, the model was notable for its performance, handling, and design, and it was widely admired for its capabilities. Even today, it is considered a true classic of the motoring industry, and an important part of the Jaguar heritage. A true representation of the golden age of British sportscars and a true milestone in automotive history the XK140 was replaced by the next and the last from the XK series – an XK150.

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Source: Classic Driver

The 1957 Jaguar XK140 was a classic sports car that had been featured in several films. Some of the more notable movies in which the XK140 appeared include the slapstick comedy “The Great Race” (1965), “Goldfinger” (1964) of the famous James Bond series, “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), the crime caper film “The Italian Job” (1969), “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967). 

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The XK140 was one of the most iconic sports vehicles of its time. It offered a blend of style, performance, and luxury that was hard to beat. The model remained in production until 1957 when it was replaced by the even more advanced XK150.

Source: Hagerty

The XK140 quickly became a success and put Jaguar on the map as a manufacturer of high-performance sports vehicles. The advanced engine, combined with its stylish bodywork and excellent handling, made the automobile one of the most desirable automobiles of its time. This success was the foundation for Jaguar’s continued growth in the post-war years, leading to the introduction of the XK150 and later models that helped establish the brand as one of the premier automakers in the world.

The origins

Source: Pixels

The British legendary brand introduced the XK140 as a replacement for its successful XK120 model. The novelty turned out with enhanced performance and comfort features, making it more attractive to sports car enthusiasts of the time. The most notable change in the XK140 was its engine, which was upgraded to a 3.4-liter inline 6-cylinder engine that produced 190 horsepower. This was a significant improvement over the XK120’s engine, which produced only 160 horsepower. In addition to the increased power, the XK140 also had improved handling and suspension, thanks to the introduction of rack and pinion steering and the replacement of lever telescopic shock absorbers. The automobile was also equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission, and in 1956, an automatic Borg Warner transmission with steering column selector was added as an option. Externally, the model had a more modern and refined look compared to the XK120. It had a one-piece front and rear bumper with vertical fangs, turn signals, and a cast radiator grille with fewer vertical bars. In addition, the vehicle was offered in three body types: Open Two Seater (OTS), Drop Head Coupe (DHC), and Fixed Head Coupe (FHC). The roadster version was designed with a removable canvas top and plastic side windows, as well as a leather-trimmed dashboard and doors without external handles. The convertible and coupe models had a wood veneer instrument panel and a small extra seat in the back. The novelty was well-received by the market and was sold in 9,051 automobiles between 1954 and 1957. With its powerful engine, improved handling, and modern styling, it was one of the most popular sports cars of the 1950s.

The 1956 model year

Source: Classic Trader

The 1956 edition was a luxurious sports car that was designed for performance and comfort. It was equipped with a 3.4-liter inline 6-cylinder engine that was capable of producing up to 190 horsepower. This engine was mated to a 4-speed manual transmission that provided smooth and responsive shifting. The 1956 release also featured an advanced suspension system that consisted of a torsion bar front suspension and a live rear axle. This suspension setup provided excellent handling and a smooth ride, even on rough roads. Additionally, the car was equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels, providing improved stopping power over the drum brakes of previous models. The interior of the XK140 was designed to provide a comfortable and refined driving experience. The seats were upholstered in leather and were designed to provide adequate support and comfort, even on long drives. The dashboard was finished in wood veneers and featured a full set of gauges that provided critical information to the driver. There was also ample storage space throughout the cabin, including a glove compartment, door pockets, and a trunk. In terms of technology, the XK140 was equipped with several features that were considered advanced for its time. These included an electric windshield wiper, an adjustable steering column, and an optional overdrive system that allowed for more relaxed highway cruising. The car also featured a lockable glove compartment, door locks, and a heating system that provided a comfortable driving environment even in inclement weather.

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Source: Classic Trader

Some famous films that featured the 1956 Jaguar XK140 include “Giant” (1956) starring James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor, “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1968) with Stevie McQueen, and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (1985).

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The post-war 50s turned out to be unusually successful for the British car industry. The famous company Jaguar Cars were no exception, which soon replaced the Jaguar XK120 with a faster and more modern XK140 model. 

Source: Historics Auctioneers

Until World War II the brand was just a small-scale British automaker. It earned worldwide success in the post-war years, after introducing the famous XK models. During the War, Jaguar enterprise (then called Swallow Sidecars), like many other automakers, was redesigned to produce various military equipment, which made the engineers get acquainted with the latest technologies in the engine building industry. Lucky for the manufacturer, in 1943, a design team led by William Hines began developing a completely new six-cylinder engine. As a result, in 1945, the Swallow Sidecars was renamed and took up a radical update of the entire model range with a new 3.4-liter straight-six engine, which was very advanced for that period. The characteristics of the new automobile also turned out to be very good: 160 hp for the road version and 180 for the racing. The newly developed automobile was presented at the first post-war London Motor Show in 1948. The debut of the new XK120 was a sensation. The sleek convertible instantly caught everyone’s attention with its streamlined bodywork made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloys.

The origins

Source: E-type Center Europe

In 1954, the modernized XK140 debuted. It became more spacious inside, and the engine power was increased to 190 hp for the basic version. In addition, a charged 210-horsepower SE version was introduced, and an automatic transmission appeared on the options list. Handling was improved by modified suspension and steering. For three years, about 8800 coupes and convertibles were produced. Meanwhile, the new D-Type model was shining on the racetracks. Its highlight was the ultra-light body of the “monocoque” type, which served as a power structure, to which the engine, transmission, and chassis were attached. The weight of the D-Type was only 840 kg and with an improved 3.4-liter 265-horsepower “six” it easily developed 280 km/h. 

The first XK140

Source: Gaurav Kumar

For conventional sports vehicle buyers, the new 1955 Jaguar XK140 model was introduced at the Earls Court Motor Show. The automobile was produced in three body styles: two-seat roadster (open two-seater), coupe (fixed head coupe), and convertible (drophead coupe). The last two had a 2+2 landing formula. The car was designed for comfortable trips, which was facilitated by an increase in the size of the cabin. The engine/gearbox was moved forward in the chassis by 3 inches (approximately 7.5 cm), which increased the interior mainly in legroom, and also increased the capacity of the luggage compartment. The 3.4-liter (3442 ccs) engine developed 190 HP using a modified cylinder head known as the “B” type. The “B” type heads used the larger bore valves from the “C” head in combination with the smaller intake port of the original XK cylinder head that was used on the Jaguar XK120 and was called the “A” type. The combination of larger valves with the XK120’s cylinder head accelerated the gas flow at low to mid-range rpm to improve fuel/air mixing and produced 190 hp instead of the standard 160 hp with an “A” head. With a C-type cylinder head, the engine developed 210 hp. This version was called the Jaguar XK140 S.E. In addition, the car was offered with three types of transmission: a four-speed manual, a manual with overdrive in top gear, and a three-speed automatic with a torque converter. The steering became rack and pinion, which increased the accuracy and information content of the control. In the UK, the car cost £1,700 and in the US, where about 80% of all Jaguar XK140s were shipped, the cost was $3,700. For the sake of American safety requirements, the car received more massive front and rear bumpers that go over the wings of the body. A total of 17,359 Jaguar XK140s of various modifications were produced during the period from October 1954 to January 1957.

Did you know?

Source: Gumtree

It’s impossible to be such an “outstanding gentleman”, and get rid of the race, right? From 1951 to 1953 XK120 won Le Mans twice. The traditions were continued by the 1955-1957 XK140  which won Le Mans three times. For such achievements, Queen Elizabeth II awarded William Lyons a knighthood! 

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