A Childhood Inspired by Steel

Stepping into Nick Goozée’s garage is like entering a time capsule of motoring history. Amidst the memorabilia, one vehicle stands out: a battleship-grey Jaguar XK140. This car, purchased by his grandfather Harold Goozée in 1956, served as much more than a mode of transport; it was the catalyst for Nick’s illustrious career in motorsport, including his time with Brabham and Penske Racing.


Harold Goozée, an avid sportsman and fan of Coventry-engineered machines, frequently used the XK140 for his fishing trips. As Nick recalls, the car was often filled with the remnants of those outings, yet it remained a magical place for a young boy dreaming of racing fame. “I won many a Grand Prix sitting behind the wheel of that car,” Nick remembers.


The Path to Motorsport Greatness

Nick’s fascination with racing crystallized after his grandfather took him to see Jack Brabham at Crystal Palace. This moment transformed his life. He soon found himself cycling to tracks like Brands Hatch and eventually landing an apprenticeship with the Brabham team in 1963. Starting as a tea-maker and tire-changer, he climbed the ranks to lead the construction of legendary Grand Prix machines.

His career later flourished at Roger Penske’s operation, where he oversaw 115 IndyCar victories. Throughout these years, the Jaguar XK140 remained a constant, silent partner in his family’s history.


A Labor of Love: The Restoration

In 1988, the car finally came into Nick’s possession. By then, it had endured decades of wear and was painted in various mismatched shades of grey. Seeking to honor its history, Nick entrusted the restoration to Peter Smith of Smith & Cave.

“The brief was that everything that could be redone or reused and was original should stay on the car, because I really wanted to keep it almost exactly as my grandfather purchased it,” Nick explains.

The restoration, which spanned from 1993 to 1994, was a meticulous process:

  • Chassis and Body: The frame was stripped, shot-blasted, and stove-enamelled, revealing a surprisingly rust-free body.
  • Mechanicals: The 3.4-litre straight-six engine was rebuilt to original factory specifications.
  • Authenticity: Beyond fresh carpets to replace those damaged by years of fish debris, the car remains largely as it was in 1956.

Preserving a Cherished Memory

Today, the Jaguar is a pristine, rolling tribute to the past. While Nick admits that the non-synchromesh Moss gearbox and drum brakes require a certain level of skill to manage, the experience of driving it remains visceral. “You can hear the suck from the SU carburettors as you put your foot down... I often feel as though I’m in the cockpit of a Spitfire,” he says.

Though he playfully regrets changing the original grey paint, the car stands as a profound connection to his grandfather. For Nick Goozée, the XK140 is more than an object of art—it is the bedrock of a life spent at the pinnacle of global motorsport.