Museum’s purring Jaguar celebrates 70th birthday!

The Lakeland Motor Museum is celebrating the 70th anniversary of a sports car design that is perhaps one of Jaguar’s greatest “head turners” of all time.

Jaguar XK140 sports cars first rolled of the production line in 1954 and from the very start they were a masterpiece of curved panels and chrome.

The museum, at Backbarrow, has a prime example of the model – a fixed head coupe that is not just pretty but has an illustrious racing career too. First registered in October 1955, it was driven in 25 British and 4 international rally events including the world-famous Monte Carlo Rally way back in 1958.

The museum’s XK140 was owned and driven by a North West rally legend – Bobby (George Herbert Farrer) Parkes. Born in Cheshire, Bobby joined Morecambe Car Club in 1953 where he developed his already impressive driving skills. He notably raced this vehicle in the RAC Rally and the Scottish Rally in 1956, the 1957 Circuit of Ireland and at Monte Carlo. It also took part in an event closer to home – the Morecambe Illumination Rally.

It became nicknamed the Battlewagon due to its rallying success (It was originally dark blue – not the bright white you can see now at the Backbarrow attraction.)

It’s a rare example of a Special Equipment (SE) model that Jaguar produced and was powered by a 3442cc petrol engine.

The Jaguar XK140 series was produced from 1954 to 1957 and came in three body styles: an Open Two Seater roadster, a drophead coupe and a fixed head coupe. Its classic wire-spoke wheels were an optional extra.

A standard model, with a twin-cam straight six engine, had a top speed of 125mph and went from 0-60 in a little over 8 seconds. But the Jaguar is not all about speed.

Enthusiasts describe this particular model as a thing of beauty. And when you walk through the doors of the Lakeland Motor Museum its curved lines catch the eye.

It’s a classic model from our motoring past that will continue to attract admiring glances long into the future. For your chance to see it in the 70th anniversary year of the famous model – head down to the Lakeland Motor Museum or for more information visit https://www.lakelandmotormuseu...