Story and History

1958 Jaguar XK150S 3.4 Roadster LHD - restored condition

A nice treat for our all our overseas customers, or those from Great Britain with a penchant for continental touring, this lovely XK150S 3.4, presented in the delightful British Racing Green complemented inside with tan hides and carpeting is really rather appealing. The weather equipment is finished in black mohair (naturally), which accords with the original colour scheme as evidenced by the Heritage certificate.

She really is in fantastic condition throughout, and all the more enticing with immaculate chrome wire wheels and beautiful bright work.

Manufactured on the 25th of June 1958 and first dispatched on the 14th of July 1958 to Jaguar Cars of New York. She would have been quite the splendid motorcar in the booming American markets of the time, and rather a piece of exotica for our transatlantic friends, who were unable to experience the speeds capable in the XK150S with their native Corvettes and Thunderbirds.

She remained in the USA through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, and in August 1999 a chap by the name of Michael Ansari, founder of M.I.C Industries Inc. purchased her and registered her in his home state of Virginia. Ansari was obviously a fairly savvy chap, as his company was featured within the pages of Inc. Magazine's “500 fastest growing companies list”. M.I.C Industries is of course famous for the fabulous sounding “Ultimate Building Machine”, which can, apparently, manufacture steel buildings in a matter of days.

Ansari eventually decided it was time to pass the XK on & he used the eminent resellers in California, the Beverly Hills Car Club Inc. Subsequently, Heritage Classics Inc., again in California, took title of her.

A chum of ours repatriated her to the UK in 2014 and it is clear that prior to repatriation the XK was treated to a full cosmetic restoration in the USA. She simply gleams, with wonderfully straight panels whose gaps would make any coachbuilder proud. To be fair the quality of trim work for the interior is of the finest level too.

How appropriate then that upon repatriation to the UK, a full mechanical assessment was carried out and the following works undertaken, thereafter totalling over £6000. Including an engine rebuild by The Jaguar Workshop of Ealing, with new pistons, big end and main bearings, oil pump, upgraded rear crankshaft seal and oil pipe. Naturally, all the necessary machining was carried out and gaskets were replaced as a matter of course.

At around this time further undertakings were a replacement oil and temperature gauge, speedometer repair and calibration, fuel sender unit, reconditioned voltage regulator, speedometer cable, speedometer angle drive, overdrive switch, horn contact in steering column, clutch master and slave cylinders, replacement headlamp units, replacement jacking point covers, rebuilt rear brake calipers and a full check over including chassis greasing and electrical items, all to ensure that she was in the rudest of health & matched the wonderful appearance.

It should be noted there is not a scrap of paper, apart from the California certificate of title, during the time in the USA. Fortunately, the Heritage Certificate does validate that this XK was produced as a 3.4S, and retains most importantly her original head whilst the cylinder block has been changed at some point in time.

One of only 843 such examples produced in the four year production run, this is really a very rare car, when compared to the Aston Martin DB5, of which 1023 examples were produced in total in the two year production run.

Offering incredible value at the attractive price shown she is, in summary, a real treat and represents a fine opportunity to acquire a slice of luxury sports motoring at a fraction of the price of a Lancia Aurelia B24S, Aston Martin, Ferrari or Maserati convertibles of the period too, for that matter.