Description
Some cars don’t need to push the boat out to attract attention. This Jaguar XK150 S OTS Roadster is one of them. Built on 17 November 1958 and delivered new to the United States, in its original left-hand drive configuration, as it remains today. A certificate from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust accompanies the car and confirms its history.
It’s a matching-numbers example, which here basically means everything is coherent and in its place. Under the bonnet, you’ll find the 3. 4‑litre inline six in the S spec, fed by three SU HD8 carburettors, developing around 250 bhp. At the time, it was the pinnacle of the XK range, and that feeling persists. The engine is smooth and willing, with no unnecessary brutality. The four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive allows for long trips with real ease.
The car is now presented in dark blue, a non‑original shade but one that suits it naturally well. The bodywork is well aligned, with clean gaps around the openings. The chrome trim is clean, without excess. The line remains faithful to the XK spirit while incorporating the 150’s evolutions: a roomier interior, a panoramic windscreen and side windows with manual wind-up that make daily use simpler.
Returned to Europe, the car was restored in the Netherlands in the early 2000s. The base was already particularly sound, something that’s still evident today. It isn’t a fragile car, but a machine built to be driven.
Several improvements were made with good sense. Disc brakes from Coopercraft on all four wheels provide effective stopping power. Electrically assisted steering eases manoeuvring without distorting the handling feel. There’s also a stainless steel exhaust, an additional oil radiator and a polybush-type silent-block kit. The Les Leston steering wheel, smaller in diameter, offers a pleasant grip. A Belmog tripmaster is fitted for those who still prefer to navigate with more than a screen.
The dark red canvas hood and the tonneau cover are recent and sit well with the overall look. Open-top driving is, of course, the ideal, but when closed the visual balance works just as well.
The XK150 S Roadster was produced in only 846 examples, giving it a certain rarity without making it inaccessible. But beyond the numbers, it’s mainly its behaviour that stands out: a smooth, capable and easy-to-use car. A classic that you take out to drive, not just to look at.
