More modern was not always more beautiful in the past - example Jaguar XK140 Michelotti
In and of itself, the conditions were very good. A Jaguar XK140 Coupé was re-bodied after an accident by Giovanni Michelotti, one of the most famous designers of all time.
However, the front end with the twin headlights is not really convincing and the car actually lost everything that made it a Jaguar during the transformation.
Apparently, the wheelbase and overhangs forced all kinds of compromises that were unfavorable for the overall appearance of the fastback coupé.
Born as the XK 140 SE in May 1955, S814286 was a left-hand drive SE coupé and was delivered to a Mme Jeanne Gaymard in Paris. After an accident in 1957, the car was then re-bodied by Giovanni Michelotti in the style of the time. (The picture of the dark XK 140 shows another XK 140 for comparison).
Michelotti is said to have re-bodied a total of three XK140s at the time, all of which share the high waistline and the hatchback. The Parisian car also features an individualized cockpit and other interesting details, for example the engine from a Jaguar C-Type was apparently installed. A restoration was started in the new century, but the owner at the time died before the work could be completed.
Anyone who has now taken a liking to the unique Michelotti Jaguar has the chance to buy it on May 11, 2018, as it will be auctioned by Bonhams on the occasion of the GP Historique in Monaco . With an estimated price of EUR 20,000 to 50,000 (CHF 24,000 to 60,000), it is reasonably priced given its exclusivity, especially as the car will be sold for charity with no reserve price. However, the Jaguar is no longer as beautiful today as it was in the 1970s, when the black-and-white pictures were taken. The buyer will have to completely restore the car, which will certainly not be a cheap undertaking. At the end of the project, however, the result will be a unique car and an interesting contemporary witness that will certainly be welcomed at many a concours, even if it is not necessarily one of the most beautiful cars in history.
