1958 Jaguar XK150

The vendor bought the XK through Bicester-based marque specialist, Pendine, in September 2020. “It represented a perfect lockdown project, requiring a mechanical recommission, re-trim and re-paint after a long period of storage,” he explains. “And has been carried out as a rolling 2-year restoration, using carefully chosen specialists”.

After some small body repairs, the car underwent a full bare metal respray (see ON THE OUTSIDE section below, for more detail) at cost of £12,000 by coachwork specialist Renegade of Elsworth, Cambs, before being re-trimmed by Classic Project Shop of Bicester in Cranberry leather, Wilton carpet and moquette. Mechanical work was again entrusted to the Bicester-based concern and included:

• A top end engine rebuild, bringing compression back to factory tolerances
• Timing chain service
• Rebuilt SU HS6 carburettors
• Brake strip and rebuild
• Suspension strip and rebuild

The vendor also took the opportunity to install some discreet upgrades to improve drivability. “They are 100% reversible but make a night and day difference when touring in the car.” They include:

• Speed-sensitive EZ power steering
• WOSP dynator and starter motor
• 123 electronic ignition
• Fully electric SU fuel pump
• Fully isolated electrics and battery conditioner for storage
• Revotec thermostatically controller electric cooling fan

“Given all the work completed, the XK is beautifully sorted and as a result is great fun to drive on the road. It is also easy to pilot with electric power steering, it brakes well, is comfortable, accelerates nicely and pulls strongly in all gears. Coupled to that, it looks great inside and out, and sounds terrific when you put your foot down!”

Over the past two years the vendor has used the car regularly in Surrey and Hampshire, as well as for longer trips to events and Goodwood Members Meetings. “I’m only selling now to make way for a fully restored XK140 DHC”.

In preparation for sale the car has undergone a 60-hour vehicle detail and has been fully serviced. It comes with a comprehensive service file detailing all the restoration work, with several hundred photographs included. A Jaguar Heritage certificate is also included, confirming the car’s specification, as well as engine, chassis, and gearbox numbers.

Jaguar’s XK sports cars are such regal looking beasts and yet, they more than have enough pep under their respective bonnets to match their aesthetic promise – and none more so than in 150 form.

Visually, it doesn’t get any better than this. The black coachwork remains in superb order, with excellent panel fit and shut lines and a wonderful lustre to the paint.

“The body was free of structural corrosion and in good shape,” says the vendor. “But the black paintwork had suffered during storage, with small dents and micro blistering across the body. Bodywork specialist Renegade took the car back to bare metal, making some small repairs, before preparing and painting it over a 4-month period at a cost of circa £12,000. This process was photographed and is in the XK’s history file”.

Today, all brightwork, including the wire wheels, remains first-class and you will also find an evocative Jaguar Driver’s Club badge mid-mounted between the front overriders.

Stunning.

As mentioned earlier, Classic Project Shop of Bicester produced a bespoke leather interior for the car. “It’s beautiful, with exquisite Cranberry leather, matching Wilton carpet and moquette – we also ensured that it was completed in a period correct fashion. The work also included door cards, dashboard, as well as having all the switches and gauges refurbished so everything works as it should. I also had a set of period style retractable seat belts fitted to enhance cabin safety.”

Once you’ve reviewed our Photo Gallery then press play on our Video Review below, 2minutes and 2 seconds into it will give you a detailed close-up of the car’s lovely cabin.

“The engine runs smoothly and pulls very well in all gears,” says the vendor. “It has the most glorious exhaust note, especially under acceleration and blipping the throttle going down the gears. With the top down, the noise sends tingles down your spine! It’s a real head turner and certainly gets people’s interest”.

An upgraded 123 ignition coupled with a WOSP hi-torque starter motor, and replacement of the original dynamo with a WOSP Dynator, means that the XK turns over first time, every time. Despite these upgrades, and as mentioned earlier, the wiring remains to put the original components (also supplied with the vehicle) back in place should the next owner wish to do so.

“When I bought the car, we carried out a top end overhaul – replacing all the valves and guides. We also took the opportunity to overhaul the carbs, replace the fuel pump and most recently change the fuel tank to ensure a clean supply of fuel to the engine. It has good oil pressure, runs evenly and is a joy to sit behind!”

The vendor says that, thanks to fitment of replacement callipers, pistons, seals, and a fresh servo, the car stops extremely well and reliably too. “The suspension was also inspected and found to be in good condition. However, as you will see from the invoices, we took the opportunity to rebuild the front suspension with fresh top and lower ball joints, replacement track rod ends, and bump stops. The wheel bearings were also adjusted, and the front steering geometry and wheel alignment checked. As a result, the XK drives very nicely and sits well on the road.”

It's fitted with a four-speed Moss ‘box with overdrive. “The gearchange itself is slick and the overdrive comes in and out at the flick of a switch – you just have to remember that there is no synchro on first gear.”

The vendor’s wide-ranging description of both the mechanical work carried out and the car’s first-class driving characteristics hasn’t left much for us to comment on, other than to again point you in the direction of our comprehensive Photographic Gallery, below. There, you will find pictures showing a beautifully presented engine bay and confidence inspiring underside.

The only minor (and we mean very minor) thing we can pick up on, is that on one or two small areas on the XK’s underside the underseal has come away; that should prove a very easy fix, with a bit of wire brush action before re-sealing.

This car’s history file is manna from heaven for a prospective buyer because it includes a photographic history that details every step of the restorative process; the body being taken bare metal, re-spray, engine rebuild, trimming, electrical work, mechanical fettling… even delivery of the finished vehicle is included. If it’s confidence in the work completed on a restored classic car that you want, then it’s here ! the only issue to note is that both the driver's and passenger door locks require some adjustment to close correctly.

You will also find invoices to back up all that work. We’ve had a quick whizz through them and tallied the total restoration spend (excluding vehicle) at over £50,000! That’s our second exclamation mark in less than three sentences! And there’s our third.

It is worth taking your time to review the photographs of the invoices as, again, it will give you an idea of the financial outlay and the comprehensive nature of the works completed.

The XK’s V5c document and current MOT test certificate (runs until 03/11/2023) are also present, as are the Jaguar Heritage certificate and several documents relating to the vehicle’s importation to the UK (first registration here on 01/06/2014).

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored, up rated, and then maintained to the very highest of standards.

Be in no doubt, this is a simply stunning example of an exalted breed. Hailing from the first blush of Jaguar’s motorsport success, this supremely sorted matching numbers XK150 provides scintillating performance allied to exquisite exterior, interior, under-bonnet, and heck, even under-body looks.

The vendor bought it via a highly regarded marque specialist and used only companies with similarly elevated reputations to carry out the restorative and upgrade works. With upwards of £50k spent on these alone, the result is one beautiful XK150. The attention to detail here is simply first-class.

We think this painstakingly restored car will realise between £85,000 and £110,000, and for that, the next owner can be assured that they are buying something very special indeed.

It’s ready to continue service as a special occasion sports car, a means of transport to Goodwood Members Meetings and the like, or even to take its next cabin inhabitants long-distance continental touring.

Magnificent.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at The Market’s Abingdon HQ; to arrange an appointment 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 or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.