Lot 612: 1958 Jaguar XK150SE 3.4-Litre Coupé

What would turn out to be the final glorious incarnation of Jaguar’s fabulous ‘XK’ series of sports cars arrived in the spring of 1957. As its nomenclature suggests, the XK150 was a progressive development of the XK120 and XK140, retaining the same basic chassis, 3.4-litre engine and four-speed Moss transmission of its predecessors while benefiting from a new, wider body that provided increased interior space and improved visibility courtesy of a single-piece wrap-around windscreen. Cleverly, the new body used many XK120/140 pressings, the increased width being achieved by means of a central fillet. A higher front wing line and broader radiator grille were other obvious differences, but the new model’s main talking point was its Dunlop disc brakes. Fade following repeated stops from high speed had been a problem of the earlier, drum-braked cars, but now the XK had stopping power to match its prodigious straight-line speed. Overdrive and a Borg-Warner automatic gearbox were transmission options, the latter becoming an increasingly popular choice. Steel wheels remained the standard fitting, though XK150s so equipped are a great rarity, as most were sold in SE (Special Equipment) specification with centre-lock wire wheels. Reputedly a factory show car taken to the USA before returning to the UK where it was first registered, this right-hand drive XK150 Coupé has enjoyed only two owners from new although - we are advised - the first registered the car in various company names. Kept in climate controlled conditions as part of a large private collection, it has covered only 5,000 miles in the course of the past 40 years and only a genuine 53,000-or-so in total from new. Described as ‘on the button’, the car recently returned from a 1,000-mile, trouble-free touring trip and required only minimal work to pass its recent MoT test – overhaul of the steering rack and rear brake calipers, plus two exhaust brackets being all that was necessary. A full set of original tools is housed within the engine compartment, while noteworthy additional features include a full-length, leather covered sunroof by Wilsons of Epsom (fitted in the 1970s), chromium plated luggage rack on boot lid, electric radiator fan, single 12-volt battery, air horn and battery isolator switch. One of 674 XK150 fixed-head coupés manufactured with automatic transmission, this unmolested example is finished in Old English White with original red leather interior and offered with assorted expired MoTs, current road fund licence, MoT to July 2007 and Swansea V5 registration document.