Jaguar XK150 3.4 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 XK140 but now with 190bhp and more torque thanks to a revised cylinder head design. This was sufficient to propel the car to 60mph in just 8.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 125mph 

It shared the XK140’s 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. The XK150 remained in production until November 1960 by which time some 9,300 had been sold, the vast majority to the US market.

This attractive overdrive example was originally supplied as a UK RHD model in 1958. It was purchased by the vendor in 2003, its previous owner having spent a fortune on restoring the car with substantial bills going back to 1993 on file.

Upon close examination it became apparent that further work was needed to bring it to the overall condition that he required and during the period 2003 – 2005 a full restoration was undertaken by Eastwood Classic Cars. A detailed photographic record of the work done is included, which shows professional chassis repair including work to the spring hangers. New door skins were fitted, along with side-light sections and front ¾ sections to the front wings. A bare metal respray followed, including a new windscreen and replacing most of the rubbers.

Whilst the dashboard was out the instruments were restored and calibrated by Vintage Restoration Ltd. The engine was also stripped and rebored with new pistons, and the carburettors were rebuilt, the whole operation costing well in excess of £25,000. The final result was certainly worth the effort. When taking photographs for the catalogue it started instantly and ran beautifully, sitting very nicely on the road with good panel gaps and a particularly appealing interior.

When tested by The Autocar in 1958, they stated: “The Jaguar XK150 is undeniably one of the world’s fastest and safest cars. It is quiet, and exceptionally refined mechanically, docile and comfortable”. This example certainly lives up to their findings, comes with 14 old MOTs, a maintenance chart and would be a desirable addition to any collection.