1957 Jaguar XK150 SE

This stunning example of an early XK150 features the chassis number S824060DN. This confirms it as a factory SE car produced in right hand drive for the home market. With the fixed head coupe sequence starting at 824001, this would have been the 59th example to leave Browns Lane. The DN suffix confirms the fitment of the de Normanville overdrive gearbox. The accompanying Heritage Certificate helps fill in some of the blanks not catered for by the chassis number. The XK was finished in Sherwood Green over tan leather from the factory and was ordered as a demonstrator by Walter E Sturgess dealers of Leicester with it leaving Browns Lane on 10th December 1957.

A letter dating from 1991 confirms that Sturgess of Leicester sold the XK150 on during 1957 to a Mr J Slater of Market Harborough. As is often the case the trail goes somewhat cold for ten years or so until the XK surfaces again, this time in Arizona, USA. A very tatty Application for Title and Registration document is on hand dating from 1975 and there it seems to have stayed for the next 13 years or so. By June 1988 the XK150 makes landfall in Felixstowe, having been re-imported by Classic Cars International. 

The XK150 goes dark again for a while before being acquired by the previous, and sixth DVLA recorded, owner in 2011. The current keeper then acquired the Jaguar at Matthewson’s auctions in early 2019. By that stage the XK had been prepared for fast road use thanks to a number of well-chosen modifications. These include a Fender Broad five speed gearbox, E Type clutch, 4HA rear axle, Koni shock absorbers, stainless steel exhaust, hi-torque starter motor, and an alloy fuel tank. The vendor notes that the original, matching number gearbox is included in the sale. Whilst under their stewardship the current owners had leant into that fast-road aesthetic by removing the bumpers (also included in the sale), adding a “Le Mans” filler cap, pressed steel bonnet vents and finishing the cross-spoked wire wheels in body colour. They have also fitted a well-respected EZ electric power steering system. Offered today with a comprehensive history file, a fascinating back story and sublime road-racer looks, and this is an XK150 to truly get excited about.

Please note that the 22 FSX registration number will be retained by the vendor. 

Sherwood Green is a stunning colour for a Jaguar XK150 but seems to suit this lightly resto-modded example particularly well. The bumper deletion and body coloured wire wheels reduces the dominance of the standard car’s brightwork thereby imbuing the XK with some extra road presence as if any were needed. The leather bonnet strap and hand pressed bonnet vents only add to the theatre. Without gleaming bumpers to compete with, the breastplate shaped radiator grill can be fully appreciated and the existing, normally hidden, brake cooling vents look purposeful. The whole ensemble works together to make this one of the best resolved modified XK150s you are likely to find.

Our consignment team report that the paintwork and bodywork are both “very good” upon close inspection, too. A couple of minor blemishes are noted, however, including a scratch on the offside front wing near the headlamp, a touched-in stone chip on the top of the door on the same side, a paint chip at the base of the rear boot lid and a small ripple in the body work below the front n/s indicator. We also found both doors and boot slightly tricky so further adjustment will be required. 

The Sherwood Green paintwork to the cross-spoked wire wheels has clearly been professionally attended to with the condition being impressive indeed. The wheels are affixed with chromed twin-eared spinners with the usual Jaguar embossing. These 15-inch wire wheels are shod with a matching set of quality Pirelli radial style tyres.

The tan hued leather adorning this sumptuous cabin offers that rare and desirable “Goldilocks” condition, not looking too new….or too old…but, rather, being just right. Individual seats meet in the middle to effectively create a full width bench. A small central cushion is affixed to the transmission tunnel to make the bench an emergency three-seater if ever required. The deeply set rear seats are equally well presented if a little compromised in terms of comfort and space. 

Biscuit coloured, edge bound carpets feature as does a short-napped velvet style headlining. The door cards are finished in matching tan leather and adorned with deeply chromed door furniture. Arm rests, full length map pockets and leather lidded ash trays only add to the period allure. More tan leather dresses the fascia panel and top roll of the dashboard.

A set of five white on black Smiths instruments populate the centrally place instrument binnacle together with a smattering of switches and knobs. A big, four spoke alloy Mota-lita steering wheel sits ahead of the driver complete with a deeply varnished, delicate wooden rim. The overall condition in here is excellent with the fit, finish and quality of the materials proving difficult to fault.

The XK150’s ancestor, the XK120, was quite literally a car that was built around its engine. The 3.4-litre straight six was the world’s first mass production engine with twin overhead camshafts and hemispherical combustion chambers. In the early XK150s like this one it was carried over again from the XK140 with just a few minor improvements to its airways and cylinder head. It wasn’t until 1960 that the 3.8-litre unit from the MKIX saloon was made available. As mentioned earlier a Fender Broad five speed gearbox is currently fitted with the original matching number gearbox included in the sale.

Williams Lyons insisted that his new world beating engine looking attractive, too, and this example showcases that obsessive attention to detail admirably. It is a sea of polished alloy under here and everything looks impressively clean and original. There are some obvious fast-road modifications in evidence, however, including the uprated Kenlowe radiator fan and Setrab oil cooler. There is even a charming bulkhead mounted holder for your spare sparkplugs. The underside of the XK150 is just as the factory intended – finished in body-coloured paintwork with not one blob of gooey looking black textured underseal to be found.

There’s a mountain of informative paperwork included with the XK. The current V5 registration document is present. This categorises the car as an Historic Vehicle and, as such, MoT exempt and zero rated for VED in the UK. The car was last MoT’d in 2019 achieving an advisory free pass at that stage. Numerous earlier MoT hard copies are also included.

A thick and very diligently organised lever arch file of accompanying papers is also on hand. A good proportion of these consist of high-value invoices for maintenance and repair work undertaken and parts procured. Other highlights include the obligatory Heritage Certificate, various documents relating to the XK’s sabbatical in the USA and a number of letters helping to map out the car’s provenance.

The XK150 has its origins in a car that was only originally conceived as a rather elaborate wheeled display stand for that remarkable XK six-cylinder engine. In an about turn driven by popular demand the XK120 would set a hare running that wouldn’t lie down until the arrival of the E type in 1961. The XK150 was the ultimate development of the original concept making it the most accomplished and useable member of the XK trio. A highly desirable piece of British automotive history.

This example is as interesting as it is beautiful looking. It successfully trades some of the “standard” car’s grown-up golf club car park kudos for something more raw, more muscular and more compelling in this unique fast-road configuration. These sporty aesthetics are fully backed up by a raft of well-specified mechanical upgrades too. A unique example of the breed beautifully presented and turned out and ready to enjoy immediately.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) 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’.