This wonderful book is currently out of print, but we have just purchased this copy, in mint condition, from a restoration shop that is closing up.
Quite simply, the Jaguar XK Explored series, authored and lavishly illustrated by the great Jaguar enthusiast, Bernard Viart, is the most useful printed resource available for the XK Jaguar restorer, bar none. No arguments. The XK140 edition was edited by the great Jaguar XK authority, Roger Payne. Jaguar XK140 Explored covers the details of construction, part numbers, wiring colors, factory options and tools, in exhaustive detail. Viart spent hundreds of hours examining original cars, photographing details and then transferring them to a drawing program where the pictures were editing, enhanced and annotated extensively, using the author's vast knowledge of Jaguar part numbers, supersessions and changes made during the model run.
We cannot say enough to praise Jaguar XK140 Explored. If you own a 140, you should own a copy of this book. If it saves your restorer a few hours' work, the cost of the book will be covered, and its comprehensive nature will be a superb resource as long s you own the car. The book has been out of print now for several years, and copies are extremely sought-after. We only have this one copy, and when they are it's gone, we will probably not be able to get more for a very long time.
We use our copies of this book, along with the XK120 and 150 companion volumes. We do have a few copies of the XK120 edition for sale, which are listed in our ebay auctions.