For Sale at Auction: 1956 Jaguar XK in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. S 818453
Engine No. G 7356-8S
Body No. P 4841

The drophead coupe was the rarest Jaguar XK140 body style, with 2,789 produced in several different variations. Among the most desirable was that known to the American market as the MC and elsewhere as the SE, for 'Special Edition,' which came with a C-Type-style cylinder head and larger carburetors, enabling 210 bhp. Cars fitted with this option were also regularly equipped with chrome wire wheels, dual exhaust, and fog lights, finishing off their highly sporting air, and were recognized by the 'S' prefix of their serial number.

The XK140 MC drophead coupe offered here was originally desirably optioned with the close-ratio gearbox, as confirmed by its Jaguar-Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate. The Certificate notes that the car was completed on March 26, 1956, then imported via Jaguar Cars of New York and sold to original owner John Reid Topping of Clearwater, Florida. Mr. Topping was the 34-year-old sportsman son of Henry J. Topping, heir to the Republic Iron and Steel Company, and his wife Rhea, heiress to the American Can Company, and thus grew up in doubly monied splendor in both New York and the Sunshine State. His brother, Dan Topping, was the longtime owner of the New York Yankees. All the Topping men were avid socialites with playboy lifestyles, for which a hot new Jaguar drophead was a perfect accessory.

In 1974 the Jaguar was discovered by a lady enthusiast who, stricken by its beauty, scraped together the funds to buy it with help from her obliging mother. It remained in storage in the family's barn until 2017, when its owner finally began restoration, having by that time become a widely recognized Jaguar concours judge with the expertise to oversee such an endeavor. Phoenix Auto Restorations of Hackettstown, New Jersey, expertly refinished the car in the period-correct colors of British Racing Green with green leather interior, dark green canvas top with matching boot cover, and chrome wire wheels. All of the interior trim and hardware is painstakingly correct, including the Hardura vinyl material used within the trunk. Inspection shows that both the block and cylinder head remain original, and the engine compartment is as superbly correctly finished as the rest of the car. The owner notes that all of the work was done per the Jaguar Club of North America guidelines for a concours correct car. Well-kept to the same high standard by the present owner, the Jaguar won a Palmetto Award in its class at the 2022 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance, then was scored at 99.95 of 100 points in the JCNA Concours later that year.

Accompanying is a roll of original tools, as well as a manual, jack and handle, grease gun, Thor knock-off hammer, full matching spare, and the original data plate. Further the car is complete with the aforementioned JDHT Certificate and a photo album documenting the restoration.

This is, quite simply, one of the finest examples of this rarest XK140 variant on the market, and is deserving of a home in the finest Jaguar collection.