Belgravia belles

THANK GOODNESS London remains a city where most people rise late at the weekends. Early morning weekend drives are a treat, and on Sunday 24 June the Jaguar and I duly motored across to Belgrave Square for the Belgravia Classic Car Show (See Events). With no parking restrictions on a Sunday, I left the XK outside the Square garden, where the inner circle of the concours was on display, so a quick getaway was assured.

Belgrave Square garden is usually locked, with access for residents only, so I normally drive past without paying much attention. Only when you’re in it do you realise how big it is.

Bentley man John Rendall (pictured right, with the hat) and Ferrari man Christopher Cornelius led me to where most of the usual suspects were to be found chatting around the cars displayed in this very green and lush park. With grub and drinks on offer the show soon became a fine garden party. The mix of classic cars on the lawns was refreshing and threw up some previously unseen motor cars.

My XK has seen a lot of action this summer and as usual

is running well. The engine, now 20,000 miles on from its full rebuild, has always been very refined with its standard 1¾in SU carbs, torquey XJ6 cams and a quiet twin-exhaust system. But recently, when starting from cold, it has sounded a little rattly for a few seconds before the hydraulic plunger pressurises the lower timing chain. And at operating temperature the engine sounds a bit tappety.

I think one or both of the timing chains must have become slack, or the tappets need adjusting, which is unusual after so few miles. The top timing chain is adjustable so I’m hoping that’s what it needs. The lower chain should be self-adjusting, but if there’s wear around the plunger the issue gets more serious because the front engine cover has to come off. Maybe it’s time for another trip down to Twyford Moors.

The exhaust also seems to have developed a bit of a blow, from the sound of it most likely where the pipes join the manifold. This might be an opportune moment to fit straight-through pipes and a tuned manifold, but I believe the standard manifold is quite efficient for an engine like mine and the Jaguar’s soft burble suits it well. So I think I’ll leave it nice and quiet.

Left and below XK140 looks right at home in Belgrave Square, from where the RAC used to run the nation’s motorsport; classics gather in the Square’s lush inner sanctum.