Lot 535: 1958 Jaguar XK150 3.4-Litre Drophead Coupé

A progressive development of the sensational XK120 and XK140, the XK150 retained the same basic chassis, 3.4-litre engine and four-speed Moss transmission of its predecessors but benefited from an entirely new body providing increased interior space and improved visibility courtesy of a single-piece, wrap-around windscreen. 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; at last the XK had stopping power to match its prodigious straight-line speed. Introduced in the spring of 1957, the XK150 was available at first only in fixed and drophead coupé forms, the open roadster not appearing until the following year. At 190bhp, the engine’s maximum power was identical to that of the XK140, so performance was little changed. ‘Special Equipment’ and ‘S’ versions came with 210 and 250bhp respectively. Overdrive and automatic transmission were options. This 3.4-litre, overdrive-equipped XK150 drophead coupé was restored in the late 1980s and acquired by the vendor in 1989, at which time the registration mark was changed from ‘VXT 240’ to the current ‘VDW 70’. The car comes with expired MoT certificates dating from 1972-’74 recording the (1972) mileage as 84,700, while the current MoT records the (2005) total as 93,700, which is believed correct. Six MoTs for the period 1989 to 1998 further support the conclusion that this car has seen relatively little use in recent years. Recent maintenance work has included the installation of a new petrol tank, carburettor rebuild and front brake overhaul, all of which were completed in the summer of 2004. Finished in Midnight Blue with beige leather interior, the car is offered with duplicate old-style logbook (1964-’74), current road fund licence, Swansea V5 registration document and MoT to September 2006.