1956 Jaguar XK140 SE Roadster

S812181DNroadUnited Kingdom

Engine: 3.4L twin-cam inline-six, 190 bhp standard (210 bhp with C-Type cylinder head on SE)
Colour: Cream with black hood

A 1956 Jaguar XK140 SE Roadster delivered new as a personal export vehicle to Swedish actress Anita Ekberg, celebrated for her role in Fellini's La Dolce Vita. Specified in left-hand drive with overdrive gearbox, cream bodywork, and black interior, the car was ordered from Jaguar's London showroom. After passing through various European private collections, it was subsequently acquired by a later owner who commissioned a thorough restoration. Matching chassis and engine numbers are retained, and a Jaguar Heritage Certificate confirms Ekberg's first ownership.

Ownership

2018-10-27Auction sale
Estimate €180,000 – €220,000
Bonhams catalogue lot →
1956-04-01 →Factory delivery
Anita Ekberg
full documentation
Ordered in person at Jaguar's London showroom as a left-hand drive personal export vehicle; original colour was cream with black interior and hood. Jaguar Heritage Certificate confirms her as first registered owner.
Date unknown
Various European private collectors
none documentation
The car passed through an unspecified number of private European collections between Ekberg's ownership and the current vendor's acquisition.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Current vendor
partial documentation
Buyer was unaware of the car's celebrity history at the time of purchase; subsequently commissioned a thorough restoration to a high standard.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

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Restoration
A thorough restoration was carried out after the current vendor's acquisition, bringing the car to an excellent standard while retaining the original matching chassis and engine numbers.
Restoration was commissioned by the current vendor after the car's significant provenance was discovered post-purchase.

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