A debonair and glamorous update to what was once the fastest production car in the world (the XK120 then the XK140), the XK150 introduced a raft of aesthetic and technical changes to the design, making one of the world's most beautiful and dynamically engaging machines even more desirable.

A smooth, wrap-around windscreen, barrel-chested and charismatic 3.4-litre straight-six – later models would feature a 3.8-litre – and plenty of motorsport heritage ensured the XK150 was adored at the time and is still revered now.

We're therefore proud to present this fine XK150 for sale. A European car that has been subject to a high quality restoration, apparently about 10 years ago. Benefitting from a Jaguar Heritage certificate, which confirms it has been restored to factory specifications, we think this is a truly fabulous example of the breed. Fitted with the 3.4-litre straight-six, which is mated to the desirable manual transmission with overdrive, this achingly pretty sports car is ready for a new owner to enjoy. And when it comes to classic sports cars, they don't come much more enjoyable, or collectible, than this.

Glancing around the cabin space, clearly it has been very well looked after. It appears as if the seats, dash and door cards were retrimmed during the restoration, the work being completed to a lovely standard, and using the correct colours so as to retain factory specification. The seats show no evidence of sagging we could discern, while the leather wears an appealing gentle weathering, with some very light creasing to the front seats offering a warm patina.

The cabin benefits from a practical 2+2 layout, offering excellent grand touring capacity and the ability to carry a couple of small children or occasional passengers to the rear.

That handsome leather is well complemented with the smart red carpets that run through the cabin. They also appear to have been  fitted during the restoration, showing minimal evidence of wear and tear. Overhead, when the convertible roof is engaged, we can see that the soft, light grey headlining looks to be in very fine fettle, with no obvious damage, staining or sagging.

We adore the full complement of gauges that sit prominently in the centre of the dashboard, and the vendor doesn't report any faults or issues in their operation. Similarly attractive is that wide, thin-rimmed four spoke wheel. Delicate and iconic in its design, it's a lovely thing to have before you and exhibits minimal wear.

At the back, the generous luggage compartment is trimmed in red carpeting to match the cabin. Again, it all looks to be in good order, with no significant damage, threading or staining that we could see.

Underneath, the false floor lifts to reveal a small collection of tools and a full-size spare wire wheel. Below this, the wheel well itself looks to be very solid, with no signs of corrosion or previous damage that we could identify.

Well finished in the correct factory shade of cream, the exterior of this suave sports car really is a delight. The paintwork itself looks to have been nicely applied, with smooth flanks and no notable blemishes or scuffs apparent. As an older restoration, there are sure to be some minor marks and chips – as you'd expect from any car that has been used on the road – but overall it presents very well indeed.

Likewise, the bodywork is smooth and even, with no rippling we could see and no evidence of corrosion or damage. Clearly, the dry Spanish climate has been very kind to this XK150. The curves of the wings and haunches are smooth and all of the panels gaps and shut lines look to be in good order.

As with all XK150s, there's plenty of brightwork to jazz up the styling, and it shows in very good order. There's some light patination to some of the brightwork, but overall it displays a very fine lustre, and those front and rear bumpers with their elegant over-riders really do look superb. At the front, we note a fine brace of yellow-lens driving lamps – one of our favourite period features.

The fabric hood itself is black, as per the factory spec, and doesn't show any sign of UV damage, tearing, sagging or wear that we could see. It folds neatly onto the rear deck and looks to be in excellent condition.

We're glad to see that the car is riding on the correct wire wheels, with period-correct centre-mounted "knock off" spinners. They all appear to be in good order, with no major corrosion issues or damage showing. They're dressed in a matched set of Firestone tyres that appear to have decent tread levels too.

As you can no doubt see from the photos, the underneath of the car is in similarly fine condition. Other than a couple of minor spots of surface corrosion to the outer edges of the sills by the wheel arches, we didn't see any damage or notable corrosion to the floor pans, chassis or drivetrain components. It all looks quite spick and span under there.

At the beating heart of this '50s sports car is Jaguar's iconic straight-six. Presented here in 3.4-litre form with twin SU carburettors, this 1959 model would have put out 210hp and 216lb-ft from the factory. Following the restoration, it shows very well. The engine bay is clean and tidy, with no evidence of leaks or other issues we could see. It benefits too from the desirable manual transmission with overdrive – the perfect accompaniment to that sonorous engine if you're an enthusiastic driver.

For its time, the XK150 was a technically advanced machine. There is fully independent front suspension with a rear live axle, while disc brakes are fitted on all corners. It's clearly been treated to a new exhaust system too, which finished in a pair of lovely stainless pipes.

The vendor does not report any issues or problems with the car mechanically, and we're told that it runs and drives very well. 

Beautifully restored and presented in the correct factory specification, this delightful XK150 is rare, collectible and deeply desirable. From the driving lamps to the interior upholstery, wire wheels and manual overdrive function, every element of this car is just how we'd want it, with some lovely detailing and handsome finishes. If you're in the market for a European classic, they simply don't come much better than this.

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.

Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased. Car & Classic may refer a shipping company that also deals with import/export paperwork. Prices start at €150+VAT within the same country or €400+VAT for moves across borders. For more details, email auctions@carandclassic.com.