Highlights
- Just 2 owners from new, in current ownership since 1988!
- Very low mileage - just 4,243 Km covered since restoration
- Comprehensively restored in 2009-2012 with extensive photos and correspondance
- Modified to desirable 3.8 ‘S’ specification
The Appeal
If you love classic cars, and you’re on ‘Car & Classic’ so we have to assume you do, you probably need no introduction to the appeal of the XK150.
Building on the reputation of its predecessors (the XK120 and XK140), it benefited from significant upgrades, both technical and aesthetic, to offer a faster, more comfortable and safer driving experience.
Over the years, it has garnered a reputation for being a capable and brilliant sports car, even by modern standards.
Building on the reputation of its predecessors (the XK120 and XK140), it benefited from significant upgrades, both technical and aesthetic, to offer a faster, more comfortable and safer driving experience.
Over the years, it has garnered a reputation for being a capable and brilliant sports car, even by modern standards.
This particular model is a regular 150 that was modified to S spec. It has undergone an extensive restoration just 10 years ago, and is presented in superb condition with many original features and original optional extras.
You’ll have to go a long way to find another XK150 as well specified and in such good condition as this.
You’ll have to go a long way to find another XK150 as well specified and in such good condition as this.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered on 16 March 1960
- Just 2 owners from new
- Current owner since 7 October 1988
- Fully restored in 2012
- Restoration carried out by ‘Victory’ of Budapest
- Regular servicing by independent Jaguar specialist
- Includes original owner’s manual
- Current Belgian registration document
- Original log book
- Only selling to reduce collection
The Interior
- Black leather upholstery
- Period radio
- Comprehensively restored
- Beautiful detailing
With wide, comfortable front seats and deep-set occasional seats in the rear, the cabin of this XK150 is a plush and roomy place to be.
It’s practical too, easily capable of carrying two adults and two children, or two adults and a good amount of luggage. The front seats feature traditional and period-correct lap-belts.
It’s practical too, easily capable of carrying two adults and two children, or two adults and a good amount of luggage. The front seats feature traditional and period-correct lap-belts.
Having been retrimmed when the car was restored in 2012, all of the upholstery is in excellent condition. The work has been carried out to a very high standard, and the door cards, leather trim on the dash-top and the cream headlining all look superb.
The dash itself is beautifully executed, with an inset wooden centre section and gorgeous analogue dials. All of the instruments, switchgear and trim is in fine order, with some of the switchgear wearing a lovely, light patina.
Tinted glass sun-shades, a period radio and the lovely, wide-diameter original 4-spoke steering wheel all really add to the sense of occasion, and are all presented to an excellent standard.
Tinted glass sun-shades, a period radio and the lovely, wide-diameter original 4-spoke steering wheel all really add to the sense of occasion, and are all presented to an excellent standard.
Black carpets run through the cabin and boot area, and are in a very good state, with neat black edging.
The boot itself is a good size, with plenty of room for luggage, and also contains a full-size spare wheel.
The boot itself is a good size, with plenty of room for luggage, and also contains a full-size spare wheel.
The Exterior
- Finished in Westminster Blue
- Original rear chrome luggage rack
- 16” wire wheels on Blockley tires
- Optional original ‘Leaper’ on the bonnet
From its swooping, curvaceous bodywork to its fantastically well detailed brightwork, every inch of the XK150 is a feast for the eyes. It’s one of those cars that just doesn’t have a bad angle.
When the car was restored, the owner had it resprayed in Westminster Blue – not an original shade, but one that suits the Jaguar right down to the ground.
Contrasting well with the car’s swathes of chrome trim, wide chromed bumpers and classic chrome grille, we think it’s an elegant and appropriate colour that enhances the vehicle’s already wonderful proportions.
Contrasting well with the car’s swathes of chrome trim, wide chromed bumpers and classic chrome grille, we think it’s an elegant and appropriate colour that enhances the vehicle’s already wonderful proportions.
The paintwork itself is in fine condition, with no damage, no evidence of bubbling, corrosion or any other issues. Obviously, as the respray was undertaken 10 years ago, there are one or two minor blemishes, but nothing that should trouble a professional valeter.
Likewise, the brightwork, lights, glass and badging is not only present and complete, but is in excellent original condition. Wearing the lightest of patinas, it really does enrich the vehicle, adding true character and charm to what is already a very fine car.
We particularly love the yellow front fog-lights, which were an optional extra at the time, and the chrome ‘bullet’ style side mirrors. The wheels are chromed 16” wire items, all shod with quality Blockley vintage tyres. They are all in lovely condition, and the tyres look like they have plenty of tread.
We particularly love the yellow front fog-lights, which were an optional extra at the time, and the chrome ‘bullet’ style side mirrors. The wheels are chromed 16” wire items, all shod with quality Blockley vintage tyres. They are all in lovely condition, and the tyres look like they have plenty of tread.
Underneath, the car is extraordinarily straight and clean, offering a glimpse of what it must have looked like when it rolled off the production line. It really is that good.
The only issue we could see on the outside of the car is that the small red repeater lens that sits on top of the driver’s side indicator is missing.
Other than this minor issue, the exterior of the car is complete and presented in exceptional condition.
Other than this minor issue, the exterior of the car is complete and presented in exceptional condition.
The Mechanics
- 3.8-litre XK150S straight-six
- Manual 4-speed (3 with Synchro) and overdrive
- Disc brakes all round
- Optional dual exhaust system
Sporting the most powerful engine ever made available in the XK150, the 3.8 really is the drivetrain that you want. This particular engine wears the correct XK150S "VAS" coded head with 9:1 compression ratio.
With triple SU HD8 carburettors fed by twin fuel-pumps, the 3.8-litre powerplant pushes a massive 250+bhp to the rear wheels, offering a 135 mph top speed and dispatching the 0-60 run in approximately 7.5 seconds. Those are still healthy figures today – it must have felt like a spaceship in 1960.
With triple SU HD8 carburettors fed by twin fuel-pumps, the 3.8-litre powerplant pushes a massive 250+bhp to the rear wheels, offering a 135 mph top speed and dispatching the 0-60 run in approximately 7.5 seconds. Those are still healthy figures today – it must have felt like a spaceship in 1960.
When the car was overhauled in 2012, the engine was also stripped and rebuilt. The block has been painted a lovely shade of bronze, and the polished rocker covers and carburettors look fantastic. The engine was also fitted with an extra Kenlowe fan for added peace of mind.
Overall the engine bay appears to be in near-immaculate condition.
Overall the engine bay appears to be in near-immaculate condition.
Other technical features that helped to make the XK150 stand out from its contemporaries include: all-round disc brakes, front independent wishbone suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.
The vendor tells us that the car drives perfectly, and has no mechanical issues at all.
In fact they said that the vehicle gives “great driving pleasure” and is “powerful and comfortable”.
In fact they said that the vehicle gives “great driving pleasure” and is “powerful and comfortable”.
Summary
There are pretty cars, there are stunning cars, and then there’s the XK150.
It’s one of those vehicles that seems to get better looking with each passing year. There’s a reason they continue to remain incredibly popular with enthusiasts and collectors alike.
It’s one of those vehicles that seems to get better looking with each passing year. There’s a reason they continue to remain incredibly popular with enthusiasts and collectors alike.
What we have here is one of the nicest examples you’ll find. Beautifully and meticulously restored, fastidiously maintained and with an incredibly low mileage, it’s a true one-of-a-kind. We see a lot of cars, but very few properly stop us in our tracks – this one did.
The combination of its provenance, the colour scheme and the fact it’s a 3.8 S model make it, very nearly, the perfect XK150.
Whoever takes this beauty home is going to be very, very happy indeed…
The combination of its provenance, the colour scheme and the fact it’s a 3.8 S model make it, very nearly, the perfect XK150.
Whoever takes this beauty home is going to be very, very happy indeed…
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