Description

1958 Jaguar XK150 SE FHC Automatic

From the Tresham Collection; current owner 21 years; 3.8 engine; fully restored 17 years ago and only 920 miles since; original UK market car in wonderful condition throughout

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 initially 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 greatly improved stopping power thanks to the all-round Dunlop disc brake technology that Jaguar had pioneered at Le Mans.

In the autumn of 1959 the XK150 became available with the 3.8-litre engine first seen in the Mark IX saloon. ‘Standard' (220bhp twin carb) or 'S' (265bhp triple carb) states of tune were offered and in either form the XK150's increased weight was more than offset by the power of the larger engine, the car regularly recording in excess of 130mph in magazine road tests.

The XK150 remained in production until November 1960 by which time some 9,382 had been made, of which 4,445 were Coupes, only a few of them with the 3.8 engine, the vast majority destined for the export market.

Dating from 1958, this XK150 SE Coupe is an original UK market car with Jaguar’s excellent 3-speed automatic transmission with manual speed-hold available for more spirited performance. Nothing is known of the early history of the car, but the NW number plate implies that it was first registered in Leeds. Our vendor acquired the car in a partly restored state from a gentleman in Hampshire in 2001. 

A passionate Jaguar collector, he promptly set about a total nut-and-bolt rebuild which took five years to complete and resulted in the magnificent specimen you see today. He was assisted by a retired motor engineer friend and between them they have done a fantastic job, the car still looking showroom fresh 17 years later.

The full extent of the work carried out is too detailed to list in full here but is amply documented by many parts invoices on file although much other work was done for which there are no invoices – for example the engine rebuild (which is a later 3.8 unit from a MkIX) and the paintwork. Rest assured, no corners were cut and the attention to detail is superb, the vendor estimating that around 5,000 hours were spent on the restoration.

The interior was retrimmed in the finest Connolly hide by ex-Brown’s Lane trimmer Mick Turley of Suffolk & Turley fame. It looks superb with alloy construction bucket seats and a hand-made steering wheel supplied by Guy Broad. The instruments were all rebuilt by Vintage Restorations of Tunbridge Wells and a new wiring loom was also fitted. The car rides on a new set of wire wheels shod in quality Vredestein tyres.

Kept in heated storage as part of a collection of cars, this XK150 has only covered 920 miles since the restoration was completed in 2005 and has never been out in the rain. Very little used in recent years due to illness, we are told that it has been started and run regularly to keep everything free. Fitted with a new battery shortly before the auction, it has certainly been running beautifully as we have moved it around on site, with good 40psi oil pressure and a notably smooth-changing gearbox.

As good an example as you could wish to find, it looks an absolute steal at the modest guide price suggested. 

This is one of nine Lots entered from the Tresham Collection.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com