Putting the ‘S’ in express
Jaguar XK150S drophead to be offered by H&H is ‘one of the very best’
The XK150S 3.8 models are rightfully accorded celebrity status in the world of Jaguar’s long-running XK series. They represent the pinnacle of over a decade of development, boast a 265bhp version of the 3.8-litre twin-cam (up 45bhp on the standard engine thanks to a redesigned cylinder head and extra carburettor), and have that extra collectors’ car magic of exclusivity. The exact total varies between sources, but somewhere around 275 XK150SS were built, that total shared between coupé, roadster and drophead coupé models.
The car here, to be offered by H&H Classics at its Duxford sale on June 22, is one of those dropheads. One of just 69 sold with right-hand drive. It’s an original Uk-market car too, sold new by Boon & Porter of southwest London and registered to a successful ballpoint pen company. It went on to have a remarkably happy and well documented life, particularly once it was acquired in 1965 by Major Armstrong of the Royal Engineers with just 8700 miles on the clock. He swiftly sent the car for the Dinitrol rustproofing treatment that must have some bearing on how well the body has survived.
Details of that formed an early entry in the first of three Army Books in which Armstrong went on to record the car’s servicing, maintenance and Motor Mileage Allowance claims for the next 20 years. Perhaps the most significant of these detail the engine seizing at just 34,860 miles in 1969. After an unsatisfactory repair attempt the engine and gearbox were replaced by factory reconditioned units, the engine coming from one of the 68 sister cars, the chassis number of which is noted.
Armstrong’s last recorded entry shows the car’s mileage as 50,306 in October 1984. With few more miles added, it was acquired five year later by Cheshire collector Michael Sutton. It was showing a little over 60,000 when the vendor bought it from Sutton in 2005 and is now up to 73,000 miles. Record keeping has also been good by recent owners and shows an engine
overhaul, interior retrim, power steering conversion by Guy Broad and a recent high-torque starter motor.
For comment on the car’s current condition I refer to Graham Searle of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club who valued the car in February 2020. ‘The car is in excellent condition and maintained to the highest standards. As the S specification model it is probably the most desirable of all the XKS. It benefits from a new interior by the leading specialists and is now one of the very best examples of this model. It should be insured for £225,000.’
That was, of course, an insurance valuation, not always the same as market value which can fluctuate from day to day. It should also be noted that values of these cars have fallen by around eight per cent since that JEC valuation, so it’s unlikely to reach that figure. Our guide agrees with the lower end of H&H’S £170-190k estimate. And that wouldn’t be a bad buy for such a fine, rare and well-documented XK150S 3.8 drophead.
See handh.co.uk for more details.