Jaguar XK150 3.4 SE FHC

It is hard to imagine the impact that Jaguar’s XK range had when it was launched way back in 1948. At a time of bleak postwar austerity when the average family saloon could barely crack 60mph and might take a week to get there, here was an outrageously sexy sportscar with a twin-cam race-bred engine that could smash past 60 in just a few seconds on its way to a top speed of 120mph. The fact that this epic machine emerged from the shattered ruins of Coventry only made it all the more heroic.

Outstanding motorcars by any standards, the three XK models from the William Lyons stable remained in production for 13 years and simply got better as time went on. Last of the line was the sensational XK150 of 1957, safer, faster and roomier than the XK140 it replaced. Available in roadster, drophead and fixed-head coupe form, it was powered by the superb 3.4-litre XK engine from the 140 but now with 190bhp and more torque thanks to a revised cylinder head design. This was sufficient to propel the car to 60mph in 8.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 125mph. 

It also shared the same independent torsion bar front suspension, live leaf-sprung rear axle and rack-and-pinion steering, but had vastly improved stopping power thanks to the all-round Dunlop disc brake technology that Jaguar had pioneered at Le Mans. Wider and roomier than its predecessor, it also had more modern lines, a bigger one-piece windscreen and a padded leather dashboard in place of the wood in the 140. The XK150 remained in production until November 1960 by which time some 9,300 had been sold of which just 1,386 were right-hand drive fixed-head coupes.

As its accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms, this particular car was built at the end of June 1960 and was supplied new by PJ Evans of Birmingham to its first owner, L Walters of the same city. Painted in Sherwood Green with a Suede Green interior, 350 COA also had the desirable overdrive gearbox option. The chassis number makes it the 83rd from last fixed-head built while the 'S' prefix denotes that it is a Special Equipment model.

Not much is known of the subsequent history of the car but in mid-2009 it was acquired by the current vendor in a somewhat dilapidated state. Over the next two years he was to treat the car to a total nut-and-bolt restoration which resulted in the magnificent specimen you see today. Every part of the car was rebuilt or renewed as necessary which included replacing virtually all of the exterior panels. The original engine was fully rebuilt with new pistons etc. as was the manual overdrive gearbox. The disc brakes were upgraded with a Guy Broad kit and all the suspension renewed.

The interior has been retrimmed in the original Suede Green and new brightwork and chrome wire wheels fitted all round. Needless to say the car is now in outstanding condition throughout with superb panel fit and paint finish, again in the original and wonderfully subtle Sherwood Green – surely the best colour combination for this model. Since the restoration was completed the car has only covered a nominal mileage and will need a period of careful running in before the performance is extended to the full.

The most comfortable and roomy model of the XK range, the 150 makes a superb grand tourer and this spectacular matching numbers example looks great value at the guide price suggested today.