In 19th September 1956, Jaguar Cars Ltd delivered an XK140 Drop Head Coupe directly to Mike Hawthorn at the Tourist Trophy Garage in Farnham, Surrey. It had been manufactured on 25th January 1956, Chassis No S 807357 DN - this tells us it was a Special Equipment model with wire wheels. Colour was Suede Green with a French Grey top - Henlys in London supplied the car.

The Registration number when delivered was PRW 476.

Last Sold

As far as we can tell, the car was restored and last sold at auction by Coy's on 26th July 1997 but with a non-original registration number: MPL 44. It was estimated at £38,000 - £45,000 and the hammer went down at £45,500 to its new owner. The JDHT say that the engine number of the car sold at auction was also non-original. It's also carrying a Jaguar Mascot which is non-original equipment - the only XK range to officially carry this was the 150 range where it was an option.

Below are some pics of the car as it looked when sold in 1997.

Another XK140

Images exist that suggest Mike had another XK140, probably delivered in March 1955 - he's seen with it at Goodwood with Cherry Huggins (soon to be his girlfriend). We are researching this.

Roy Davy, who has a letter from Mike and was at the Goodwood meeting, mentions that he saw Hawthorn depart in a regency red XK140 drophead with a Coventry number!

Mike Hawthorn at Goodwood for the Nine Hour race in April 1955 with a Jaguar XK140 DHC. He is with Cherry Huggins who he later chose as a girlfriend. She was a model with Vogue and thoughts of marriage between the two were entertained in 1956 after Mike proposed to her. She accepted but in the end it never happened.