Jaguar XK 140 (United Kingdom, 1954-1957)

The Jaguar XK140 is a sports car launched by the British carmaker in 1954, taking the place of the XK120 on the markets. The XK140 model was given this name because of its estimated 140 mi/h top speed. Jaguar produced the XK140 for three years, until 1957.

After peace was restored in Europe, the Jaguar company’s owner William Lyons restarted focusing on car production and in 1954 the XK140 model was born. Just like its predecessor, the XK120, this new car was named after its estimated top speed as well, that being 140 mi/h.   In 1956 the XK140 became Jaguar’s first sports car to be available with an automatic transmission. It had a short 3-year lifespan, as Jaguar stopped producing it and replaced with a new car (XK150) in 1957.

The Jaguar XK140 has a front engine, rear-wheel drive arrangement, for which two engine options were made available: both 3.4-liter units, but one of them rated at 190 hp, while the other produces 210 hp. As mentioned before, the car’s top speed at launch was 140 mi/h (225 km/h). The XK140 has a four-speed transmission, which can be either a standard manual unit or an optional automatic one.

Steel box-section chassis.   Platform
  Suspension Front wishbones with torsion bars and telescopic dampers; live axle with semi-elliptic springs, tube-type telescopic shock absorbers.   Steering Rack and pinion steering.   Brakes Hydraulic drum brakes on all wheels.

The Jaguar XK140 was made available in three different body style options: as a coupe, a convertible and a roadster, all with two-seater bodies.

A Jaguar XK140 was featured in the 1999 hit movie ‘Cruel Intentions’, where it was driven by actor Ryan Phillippe’s character Sebastian.