1960 Jaguar XK 150 S

As we said, this car has passed our way before.

Then, we said that it absolutely ticked all the right boxes for being a matching numbers and super rare RHD, 3.8-litre, ‘S’ example.

Well, nothing has changed materially since then.

The previous owner bought the car in 1988 and had it painstakingly restored by Brian Mondey of Gosport between1992 and 1995.

That same year the car gained many firsts in concours events, including the National Autoglym rounds, and was a later put on display at the Birmingham NEC Classic Car show. It also won 'Best in Show' at the Lulworth Classic '96.

But the car was never intended to be just a show pony and the then owner spent a lot of time, effort and money on ensuring that it was a proper driver’s car and utterly useable.

He proved the point (and the wisdom of his thinking) by taking the car on all sorts of domestic and European rallies, including the 1998 and 2000 ‘Tour Auto’ events through France and the 2008 Classic Le Mans ‘Peacock Run’.

A letter from Jaguar dated 1.8.89 tells us that when the car left the factory it was ‘Cotswold Blue’ with ‘Dark Blue’ interior trim.

The British Racing Green car we have with us today features nothing that in any way significantly degrades or compromises its originality and authenticity.

During his ownership, the previous owner added hydraulic steering, an updated stainless-steel exhaust system, adjustable shock absorbers, a new water header tank, a Kenlowe fan and a new switch for the thermostat.

All of which seem to us to be eminently sensible and sensitive additions.

We have driven the car and can attest to its grin-inducing capabilities as a lively, balanced and long-legged tourer.

It is a pleasure to look at, listen to, sit in and, of course, drive.

The car comes with a full spare set of wire wheels and the original adjustable seats.

The seats currently in situ were placed there to accommodate the previous (very tall) owner.

The original seats are presently being retrimmed. They and the spare set of wheels may be collected from the vendor (who lives very near to our Oxfordshire HQ) at a later date.

In recent years the car has been used regularly but sparingly, and has always been promptly and assiduously serviced and maintained without regard to cost.

Among a few other excursions, the vendor has driven the car to Cornwall and Shropshire from his Oxfordshire home. He tells us that the car didn’t miss a beat and that he didn’t for one moment expect it to.

This vehicle presents very well from every angle and has weathered the vicissitudes of age and use with commendable pluck and defiance.

The bodywork is straight and true, with no dinks, dents or creases of any consequence to ponder, and the paintwork has retained a good deal of shine and lustre.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are crisp and consistent, but we noted that the driver’s door has dropped slightly on its hinges and is prone to slightly catching on the bottom edge of the wing/wheel-arch behind it. It closes tightly, but needs a little upward lift to affect the closure.

We can’t imagine that the adjustments needed to remedy this will be either onerous or time-consuming.

The wire wheels are in very good order, as are the tyres. Ditto the lights, lenses, badging, decals and all other exterior fixtures and fittings.

Save for the odd spot of foxing on the rear light cluster mountings, the chrome work has held up well.

There are a couple of paint chips on the edge of the passenger door; a patch of slightly ‘orange-peely’ paint on top of the o/s/f wing; and the odd air bubble under the paint in the groove of the swage line beneath the ‘S’ badge on the passenger side.

Those very minor foibles aside, even entirely standard scratches, scuffs and stone chips are far more notable for their absence than their presence.

Basically, and honestly, this 65-year-old car looks absolutely fabulous.

We’re delighted to bring you the good news that the interior is every bit a match for its exterior counterpart in terms of quality, condition and preservation.

As mentioned earlier, the fixed seats are not the originals (they’re being retrimmed and may be collected from the vendor’s home when they, and you, are ready), but they are comfortable, supportive and in very good condition. 

The only (minimal) signs of wear are on the driver’s seat, where there are a few creases around the bolsters. 

Let’s face it, by the time most of us reach 65 a few creases around the bolsters will probably be the least of our worries.

The beige carpets are decent, apart from a few spots of staining under and behind the driver’s seat, where a few patches are also beginning to look decidedly threadbare. 

There’s also a couple of splits to a slightly ragged section of carpet above the handbrake gaiter.

A section of the trim around the parcel shelf is a little loose.

The door cards, headlining and dashboard trim are all in decent fettle, as are the Moto-Lita steering wheel, handbrake, gear lever and other controls.

The oil temperature gauge is an aftermarket unit which the vendor tells us is not working, but the water gauge is working OK.

There are a couple of built-in, after-market, rally-style comms units beneath the dashboard, which were fitted by the previous owner.

To the best of our knowledge, all buttons, knobs, levers and switches do what they’re supposed to do in a timely, accurate and uncomplaining manner.

The engine and engine bay appear very clean, tidy and ordered, with everything in its right and proper place – as befits a car that’s had more medals and ribbons pinned on it than the Duke of Wellington.

And just look at that legendary 3.8 ‘S’ engine, wearing its correct cylinder head colour of ‘old gold’ – the earlier examples having the ‘pumpkin’ orange finish.

The chassis and underpinnings look to have plenty of structural integrity, and we’ve seen absolutely nothing to make us tut, frown, shake our heads or otherwise question the car’s character or honesty.

The previous owner fitted the car with new parabolic springs and a new rear section for the exhaust.

The current owner has fitted a new slave cylinder for the clutch.

The vehicle comes with all sorts of receipts, bills and invoices, including those that itemise the restoration work carried out by Brian Mondey.

There are also plenty of letters, photographs, old MoT certificates, and other bits and pieces attesting to an automotive life well lived and properly documented.

We liked this car a great deal when we last saw it.

If anything, we like it even more now and imagine that the newly retrimmed original seats will do nothing to detract from that feeling.

Not only is it exceptionally rare (and it can only get rarer) and a fine, matching numbers example, it is also as good to drive as it is to look at.

And it looks simply sensational.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £55,000 - £75,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.