Hello all ... Regarding my 1956 XK140 DHC: The VIN, body, and gearbox numbers match the data plate, and the British Heritage Certificate from 2005. The engine number, G7667-8S, matches the data plate (with no signs of tampering - it looks original), but the heritage certificate states "owner states that engine # G7667-8S is in the car. Data plate altered by previous owner.". The engine (block, C-Type head, color, crankshaft damper, valve covers, numbers, etc) appears to be a legitimate 3.4 MC. Does anyone have any thoughts about whether this car is a legitimate XK140 MC DHC or if the engine was replaced at some point? The previous owner referred to in the certificate, purchased the car from the original (US) owner and is as baffled about the Heritage Certificate statement as I am. I'm not sure there is any way to trace how many (or what chassis numbers) of the US XK140 Drop Head Coupes were MCs. Any thoughts or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! ... Mark

 

Upon further internet research, I found some interesting (and new to me) facts. Out of approx 2311left hand drive export XK140 DHC's produced, the majority were "SE+C's" (or MC's in the US). My VIN of S817XXX denotes an original MC version with an overdrive gearbox. I believe the SU's (see attached photo) are sand-casted S8's - consistent with the C-Type engine. The car has the dual exhaust, but I'm not sure about the larger torsion (or sway?) bars. I'm still baffled by the BHT comment though!

 

Mark those are not sand cast SUs or if they are someone has put a cover over them. The Sand cast have very large fuel bowls and a manual choke--it seems you have a starting carb or if you wish an AED. H8 carbs were not consistent with the "C' engine. Normal HD6 carbs were. H8 were a competition carb and while all of the story has yet to be told it is possible no 140 left the factory with H8s. That said they were an option and dealers could install with a modified manifold or a new one.Your engine bay is very nice but there are a lot of boy racer parts added.

 

George ... thank you for your comments. My mistake on the H8's. So are these HD6's? Not sure what is meant by starting carb or AED. PS ... thanks for your work at the Coventry Foundation (I'm also retired army).

 

They look mostly like HD8s but is there a cover on them--The top configuration is very odd. The starting carb--or enrichment device is between the carbs and has an electrical hookup. I can not see from your pic but you do have an otter switch showing on the manifold which controls the AED.

 

Data plates are just for sale, so easy to make your own.
Does the cylinder head has a molded letter "C" in the casting ( between the spark plugs? )
Then you have a c-type head!
The C-type embled for the valve covers are meaningless ( you can just add them yourself )
Definite no H8 sand cast , does not even look like the later HD8, never seen covers for these.

Regards,
Peter Jan

 

MG Mitten or Moss or someone like that sold chrome slip over covers for SU carbs years ago to dress up chambers that needed polishing.

 

Yes ... C casting on the head in the proper location. Still wondering why the BHT comment. The last owner definitely did not change the engine or data plate. Thanks again.

 

Definitely sand cast H8's with covers, as suspected above. Genuine C-Type head, and confirmed that all numbers match. Do not know when or who added the H8's, but they are tuned very nicely. The car runs beautifully.