Lot 168 - 1959 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupé to S-Specification

• Restored by Twyford Moors
• Excellent history folder

This car can be viewed in person from 14th to 18th July 2020 at our the auction site, Windsorview Lakes, Datchet, SL3 9HY

Although having a family resemblance to the XK120 and XK140, the XK150 was radically modernised. A one piece windscreen replaced the split screen and the wing line no longer dropped as much over the doors. The bonnet was widened, opened down to the wings and on the roadster, the bulkhead was moved back four inches to make the bonnet longer. Thinner doors gave more interior space. The standard engine, the same as fitted to the XK140, was the 3.4 litre double overhead camshaft Jaguar straight-six rated at 180bhp at 5750rpm but most cars were fitted with the SE engine that had a modified cylinder head with larger exhaust valves rated at 210bhp at 5500rpm. Four-wheel Dunlop 12” disc brakes appeared for the first time although it was theoretically possible to order a car with drums. Either wire wheels or steel wheels could be specified. Suspension and chassis were very similar to that on the XK140. These were high performance, well-appointed sports touring cars and could cope with long distances with alacrity.

It is always enormously satisfying, when purchasing a classic Jaguar, to have the words, 'Twyford Moors' emblazoned across the history file. And so it is with this considered example of the marque. Languishing as it was for many years in a barn, it was discovered by the Hampshire-based specialists in 1995 and rebuilt from top to bottom according to detailed specifications from the then owner. The car was stripped and re-painted with selected re-chroming, but a Getrag five-speed gearbox was installed for more flexible long-distance driving. This was then mated to a 3.8 litre engine with a ported and polished head, an unleaded conversion, triple HD8 carburettors and the correct under-wing 'S' conversion to a full stainless-steel exhaust. Suspension takes the form of four Koni shock absorbers with a four-pot front disc-brake conversion, chrome wire-wheels and Avon radial tyres and power steering to take the strain. The interior has been retrimmed to include a walnut dashboard and door cappings, inertia-reel seatbelts to the front and bespoke seatbelts to the rear for children. This great-looking example was designed to be used and, to this end, it also benefits from an aluminium radiator, header tank and up-graded brakes.

The vendor purchased the car from ourselves in 2015 and sent the car back to Twyfords with the instruction to put the car into top condition. This required an aluminium fuel tank, clutch slave cylinder, brake servo, hi-torque starter motor, differential pinion oil seal and gaskets to be fitted at a cost of £9,200. More recently the car has been lovingly cared for by The Jag Workshop in Ealing, they have carried out service work, reconditioned the power steering pump, rebuilt the cylinder head, fitted an electronic distributor and other mechanical work totalling £8,500. Supplied with a V5C registration document and a great history folder, this XK150 is clearly a very well sorted example, presenting in excellent order throughout.

The health and safety of both our customers and team remains the utmost priority, we are therefore operating to Government guidelines throughout viewing and auction day.