Highlights

Recently completed three year £148,000 restoration by Hilton & Moss
All areas restored including bodywork, roof, paint, trim and mechanicals
One of 668 RHD DHC XK150 and a matching numbers home market car
Single-family ownership since 1987
Desirable later 3.8L XK with twin SUs and optional factory overdrive
Beautifully presented car in British Racing Green with tan leather

The Appeal

The final iteration of William Lyons’ beautiful XK works equally as a show queen and a usable classic grand tourer. This majestic British Racing Green RHD DHC 1959 car is ideally suited to either role thanks to a recently completed three-year restoration by specialist Hilton & Moss.

The history file reveals that this work, begun in 2022 and completed in mid 2025, cost £148,000 and not surprisingly covered every aspect of the car. There are invoices for a replacement chassis, engine work, gearbox rebuild, rewiring, retrim, suspension, brake overhauls and much more. The bodywork and paintwork have also been refreshed, and there is a brand new black fabric roof with retrimmed tan headlining to match the interior. The key to any XK restoration is the quality of the work - in this case, everything has been done by a very experienced model specialist. The car has been little-used since completion and naturally presents at a very high level.

We’re told that the car has been in the current family ownership since 1987 and, prior to the restoration, was used regularly for European touring. It is one of just 668 RHD home-market Drop Head Coupes and features the later 3.8L XK engine and optional factory overdrive.

This is a really fine example of the ever-popular later XK and one where the buyer gets to capitalise on all the recent investment.

History and Paperwork

Original UK right-hand-drive car
First registered in 1959
Factory built in November 1959
Previously painted red, which was changed in 1986
DVLA records eight registered UK keepers
Current keeper since October 2024
Vendor advises that the car has been in current family since 1987
Matching numbers confirmed by Jaguar Heritage Certificate
Originally Sherwood Green with Suede Green leather interior and black roof
Hilton and Moss invoices 2022-2025 detailing £148,000 of recent refurbishment work
The vendor reports the car has completed several extensive European tours
VIN number S827484DN confirms the car as 1959-built with overdrive

Summary of 2022-2025 restoration by Hilton & Moss (further details in photos):

07/25 - £2,074 - paint and body repairs, new mats
05/25 - £1,351 - soft top adjustments, door seals, mirror seals
03/25 - £7,860 - chassis wax treatment, roof retrim, general checks
02/25 - £2,978 - repair water leaks, roof work
10/24 - £780 - chroming work
09/24 - £1,893 - wood trim work
08/24 - £2,554 - trimming work
07/24 - £3,246 - roof repairs, road test
06/24 - £5,580 - wheel alignment, carburettors, brakes, battery, carpets, instruments
04/24 - £4,227 - cooling system, electrics, clutch work, fuel system
03/24 - £5,842 - trim work and other repairs
02/24 - £6,873 - various including clutch and brakes
01/24 - £6,449 - fuel system, wiring loom
12/23 - £3,092 - fuel system and fuel tank
11/23 - £2,547 - brakes and coolant pipes
10/23 - £2,976 - wiring
09/23 - £3,230 - wiring, paint
08/23 - £5,921 - chassis replacement, radiator etc
07/23 - £4,434 - chassis work
06/23 - £3,383 - refitting lights, wiring loom etc
05/23 - £10,588 - gearbox overhaul, cooling fan
04/23 - £3,813 - gearbox refit, disc brake overhaul
03/23 - £6,351 - general repairs
02/23 - £3,222 - sandblasting and axle repairs
01/23 - £8,233 - axle overhaul etc
12/22 - £6,909 - refit engine, underside treatment
11/22 - £13,046 - metal work
10/22 - £10,717 - strip down, fabricate repairs
09/22 - £8,547 - strip down

The Condition

Comprehensive refurbishment recently completed by Hilton and Moss
Refinished in dark British Racing Green with paint presenting very well
Some very minor points to note to paint, such as edge chips as shown
Bodywork renovated as part of the recent programme of works
New chassis fitted during restoration
Chromework presents well and appears to be a mix of original and replacement
Some light tarnish to note to some chrome elements
Slight wear to note to screen rubber surrounds
Other seals replaced during restoration as above and in photos
Chrome wire wheels in very good condition, as shown
New black fabric roof with tan headlining fitted
Matching black tonneau included
Interior retrimmed in tan with green piping and matching carpets
Wiring overhauled as part of recent restoration
Accessories and instrumentation restored to working order
Radio system upgraded

We suspect that XK aficionados will immediately appreciate what they’re looking at with this well-presented BRG XK150 DHC. The panel fit is an obvious tell, as is the quality of the paintwork and the attention to detail inside. There are a few minor points to note, but nothing that we feel errs beyond characterful patina.

You can review the extent of the work applied to this car in the list above and the photos. Highlights include a new chassis, which has also been treated, extensive metalwork repairs to the panels, new paint, new roof, retrimmed interior and sundry other minor improvements such as seals and trim items.

The Mechanics

3.8-litre straight-six engine with twin SU carburettors
Four-speed ‘Moss’ manual gearbox with factory-fitted overdrive
Gearbox rebuilt as part of the recent refurbishment
Engine renovation work during the programme of works
Carburettors, brakes, suspension and electrics all attended to
Upgraded cooling and ignition systems

The XK150 is notable for its adoption of disc brakes, finally giving these big cars the stopping power to match their power. From 1959, when this car was built, the factory offered the car with the larger 3.8L 220bhp version of the XK engine. This car is so-equipped and is reported to be matching numbers. It also has the desirable factory optional overdrive unit. In factory terms, this car is an ‘SE’ model with the ‘S’ chassis prefix.

The car has been with the current family since 1987. We’re told that prior to the restoration, it was used regularly for European road trips, where its elevated specification would have no doubt come in handy.

The restoration by marque specialists Hilton & Moss touched virtually every single area of the car’s running gear and mechanicals. You can check that in the list above and the photos. The gearbox was rebuilt, the engine checked and renovated as required, and the suspension, brakes, cooling system, electrics and fuel system all attended to. We’re told that the car features an upgraded ignition and cooling system, both useful improvements for anyone intending to use these cars, but otherwise, it remains largely standard.

With few miles completed since all that work, this car is said to be in fine running order.

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