It is very rare to encounter cars of this level of rarity in such condition; fortunately, this is one of those occasions. The Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate records that the chassis of this car was manufactured on 25 January 1955 as a left-hand drive unit, delivered without bodywork. The incomplete chassis was shipped to Delecroix, Paris, France, where it was purchased by industrialist Hans Altweg of Lyon. The vehicle was intended for custom coachwork. The bodywork was commissioned to Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin. The aluminum construction resulted in a weight reduction of approximately 100 kilograms compared to the original steel bodywork.

The car was completed and displayed at the 1955 Paris Motor Show in October. Following the exhibition, it sustained minor front-end damage, after which the grille was reshaped. The vehicle was later exhibited at the Cannes Concours d’Elegance in August 1956. According to Jaguar historian Anders Ditlev Clausager (Jaguar XK 140/150 in Detail), the car was involved in a further minor accident in 1959. Subsequent modifications to the front end were carried out, likely by Ghia, at the request of Jean-Louis Berthelot-Mariat of Lyon. These modifications included installation of a larger grille, dual Lucas fog lights, and additional vents in the front fenders. The updates were implemented to improve performance for rally and hill climb participation.

In 1969, the car was acquired by Roland Urban, collector, Jaguar historian, founder and former president of the Jaguar Drivers Club of France. Under Urban’s ownership, the car underwent several mechanical modifications. The original engine was replaced with a 3.8-litre unit fitted with triple Weber carburetors. A D-Type cylinder head and Dunlop disc brakes were subsequently installed. The car participated in multiple events and is reported to have won a race at Monza during this period. The vehicle remained in active use until 1979, after which it was placed into storage. It remained stored until its acquisition by the current owner in 2021. Find it for sale at $267,500 here in Astoria, NY.