1961 Jaguar XK150

Finished in the rare colour of Pippin Red with a black leather interior, this delightful 1960 Jaguar XK150 3.8 FHC enabled the seller’s father to fulfil a lifelong dream as he’d admired them since he was 12 years old.

He finally made his dream come true in 2018 when he bought ‘PDY 840’, a car that had been in the same hands from new until 2003.

Still in a remarkable condition at that point, it nonetheless benefitted from a sympathetic restoration in 2004/05 before being used only gently between then and the seller’s father buying it.

He then used it for a couple of gentle ‘scavenger hunt’ rallies, events he thoroughly enjoyed before letting it settle in his small collection of classic cars.

He kept it running well though and the seller drove it to us from his home in Essex, letting it sprint up to the legal motorway limit on occasion, a speed and journey they both enjoyed.

The Pippin Red coachwork looks terrific, doesn’t it? The restoration was clearly done to a good standard because it’s holding up very well indeed.

True, some of the panel alignment isn’t the best we’ve ever seen but then that’s probably because we’re used to seeing restored cars that are better built than they ever were in period. This one still looks great and we suspect the slightly less than perfect shutlines are how they would have been back in the day. I guess it shows you can have original panels or perfectly aligned panels but rarely both, eh?

But, it’s still a looker; please don’t come away with the impression there’s anything wrong because nothing could be further from the truth; this is still a helluva good-looking car with a good finish to that Pippin Red paint.

The wire wheels, which were fitted new in 2015 if the invoices on file are to be believed, are in fine fettle. They’re also fitted with matching 6.00 x 16 Michelin Pilote tyres, all of which have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Light lenses, glazing, badges, etc., are all good, too as is the chromework – and if some of the latter is a little pitted it doesn’t detract from the car’s overall appearance; this is a car you could drive from your chalet in Switzerland and then display at your local classic car show.

There is some work to do but only a little. The windscreen sealing rubber is perished and could do with being replaced. The side window rubbers aren’t far behind either, so you could add them to your list.

There’s also a little rust breaking out along the top of the rear wings, which will need catching sooner rather than later.

The interior might be patinated but it’s the original and has been left largely untouched bar regular feeding and cleaning of the leather.

The front seats are cracked and show some colour loss but they, like almost everything else in the cockpit, are believed to be the originals and to over-restore them – or, heaven forbid, replace them - would be to lose so much of the car’s character and appeal.

There are a few holes in some of the leather facings and refurbishing them – perhaps with new stuffing and webbing while they’re apart to add what little integrity they’ve lost over the years – would be sensible: conservation rather than restoration.

The carpets and door cards are similarly worn, which is to say they’re full of character and could be left as they are.

The vestigial rear seats, and the dashboard, instruments and smaller controls are in an excellent condition. The headlining is also firm and taut.

The boot, which is nicely trimmed and every bit as good as the cabin, contains the comprehensive tool kit and a spare wire wheel fitted with a matching Michelin Pilote tyre.

Mechanical work back in 2004 included some work to the carburettors along with a new brake servo unit, rear calipers, Mintex pads, and pipes. The handbrake mechanisms were cleaned, greased and re-shimmed before being lock wired.

‘Kevlar' water hoses were installed along with a new clutch and clutch master cylinder, new gear lever bushes, and a re-conditioned steering rack.

Also fitted were new rear axle bearings and seals plus one halfshaft and a new ‘over axle’ flexi pipe. A twin stainless-steel exhaust system is also fitted.

Malton Coachworks carried out some further recommissioning in 2019 at a cost of £3,300, primarily to the braking, fuel and ignition systems. An electronic fuel pump is also fitted and, importantly, Realm Engineering installed a ‘Supra’ gearbox conversion in December 2015 comprising a five-speed gearbox and propshaft, which transforms the car’s long-distance legs.

All of which has paid off because, as you can see, it starts very well and idles beautifully. It shows good oil pressure at idle and this improves when the engine is revved, something it does with alacrity and all the right noises.

We previously mentioned its motorway performance and there aren’t many cars of this age you can say that of.

The engine bay is very nice. Not flashy or over-restored but a good, solid example of its type.

As for faults, it needs a new battery.

Built on the 10th June 1960 and distributed by Henlys Limited, London, it was sold by Stubberfields Garages, St Leonard on Sea in Sussex finished in the special-order colour of Pippin Red with black leather upholstery.

One of only 656 cars produced in this specification and the 100th from last made, it had the same owner from new until 2003. It was then still a “remarkably well-preserved car in original condition” prior to a sympathetic restoration in 2004.

A previous advert for the car details the restoration in 2004 as follows:

• The underbody and chassis had been regularly sprayed with oil, leaving them in a remarkably well-preserved condition. (Further professional Waxoyling was carried out by Malton Coachworks in April 2019.)

• The body was stripped down to bare metal and this was found to have a remarkable lack of rust, a condition that was exploited with new paint.

• Some of the chromework was replaced but the interior, which was found to be “beautifully original” was left well alone.

A Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate shows it is still a ‘matching numbers’ car. (Please see the report in the history file for more details.)

It was also featured in an article on the model in the March 2015 issue of Classic Car Mart. A copy of the magazine is included in the history file.

The Jaguar doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

That said, the last one expired in October 2020 after a stellar record of five advisory-free MoTs on the trot, so getting another might not be too onerous.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the history file includes many old invoices and expired MoT certificates in addition to handbooks for the car.

Utterly charming, this XK150 is, to our eyes, a far nicer prospect than any 100-point concours car. With one owner for the first 42 years of its life, a sympathetic and gentle restoration, alongside plenty of ongoing maintenance and TLC, has left it fighting fit and looking gorgeous.

Always a popular choice for the discerning British sportscar enthusiast, we can see this XK150 finding a home with a romantic who’s looking for a dual-role car, one they can drive and show with equal ease, all the while appreciating its fine history.

As for what it’ll fetch, we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £35,000 and £45,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.