Column by the Lakeland Motor Museum, Backbarrow:

EVERY now and then, a car will just grab you with the power of its looks.

The Jaguar XK140 sports car at the Lakeland Motor Museum is one of those special vehicles.

The fixed-head coupe is a masterpiece of curved panels and chrome.

But it’s not just pretty.

It had an illustrious racing career, having been driven in 25 British and four international rally events - including the world-famous Monte Carlo Rally back in 1958.

It was owned and driven by a North West rally legend – Bobby (George Herbert Farrer) Parkes.

Bobby Parkes was born in Cheshire and joined Morecambe Car Club in 1953, where he developed his already impressive driving skills.

He notably raced this vehicle in the RAC Rally and the Scottish Rally in 1956, the 1957 Circuit of Ireland and at Monte Carlo.

The car also took part in an event closer to home – the Morecambe Illumination Rally.

It became nicknamed the Battlewagon due to its rallying success (it was originally dark blue – not the bright white you can see now at the motor museum at Backbarrow).

It's one of only 194 right-hand drive special edition models that Jaguar produced.

The Jaguar XK140 series was produced from 1954 to 1957 and came in three body styles: an open-seater roadster, a drophead coupe and this fixed-head coupe.

Its classic wire-spoke wheels were an optional extra.

A standard model, with a twin-cam straight-six engine, had a top speed of 125mph and went from 0-60 in a little over eight seconds.

But the Jaguar is not all about speed.

Enthusiasts describe this particular model as a thing of beauty.

And, when you walk through the doors of the Lakeland Motor Museum, its lines certainly catch the eye.

It’s a classic model from our motoring past that will continue to attract admiring glances well into the future.