Unique Jaguar may hide C-type parts and BB-history

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Missed out on yesterday’s unique coachbuilt Porsche? No worries, here’s another rare chance for an equally unique thoroughbred: the 1955 Michelotti Jaguar XK140. Bonhams offers it during the Monaco sale next Friday the 11th. We only knew it from Roland Urban’s wonderful book ‘Les Meamorphoses du Jaguar’ but it seems the car wasn’t done much justice since that 1990s publication. The advantage is that it is estimated at only € 20- to 50,000 and comes with no reserve. This could be a really good buy for somebody.

So what’s its story? Well, this car was sold new to Paris as an ordinary XK140 Coupé in 1955. But when it was involved in an accident when only two years old, somebody decided it should go to coachbuilder Giovanni Michelotti, who was at the time working hard on Standard Triumph designs. Michelotti supposedly bodied three XK140s but this is the only one known to survive. He later clad an ex-Le Mans D-type in a stunning coupe body, too. But that’s anther story.

This XK140 was bought in the late 1970s by Roland Urban in the UK, he took it to France and registered it there. By 1999, the car appeared in Brussels by a Mister Schepens, who reportedly drove it for several years before starting a full restoration in the mid-2000s. However, when he passed away in 2016, he left the Jaguar unfinished in its garage together with 10 more cars. Its engine is believed to have several parts from a C-type and there is even rumour of Brigitte Bardot having owned it at one time! A future owner clearly has some detective work to carry out here!

The car is believed to be 100% complete including its already re-upholstered seats, original badges, gauges, windows and front grille but is in need of a full restoration. More here.

(Words editor, pictures Bonhams auctioneers)     

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