1960 JAGUAR XK150 3.8 DHC

• US personal export car built in left-hand drive during February 1960 and shipped to J.M.Rice in New York
• Returned to the UK and joined the ranks of those lucky Jaguars transformed by the legendary 'JD Classics'
• Indigo Blue with light grey leather, Burr walnut, dark blue mohair hood and tonneau, chrome wire wheels
• Optioned with just about every JD Sports upgrade that was available at the time
• 5-speed gearbox, sports suspension, power-assisted rack and pinion, limited-slip differential,
• Aluminium radiator, cooling fan upgrade, handmade exhaust, wiring loom, and alternator electrics
• Pleasurable long-distance tourer with inertia-reel belts, Kenwood sound system and iPod dock
• Just totally 'wows' with its road and touring competence and will reward its new owner for years to come

A car-starved Britain, still trundling around in perpendicular, pre-war hangover motors glimpsed the future in October 1948 with the launch of the Jaguar XK120 at the Earls Court Motor Show. Production commenced in 1949 in Coventry, and the XK's swoopy shape and stylish occupants would become a common sight on British roads over the next fifteen years with the car's international appeal and competition successes triggering the beginning of a hugely positive period for the company. The XK150 appeared in May 1957, replacing the 140, and was the final incarnation of the XK series being initially available in Fixed Head Coupe (FHC) and Drop Head Coupe (DHC) versions with the svelte Roadster (OTS-Open Two-Seat) following in 1958.

A more refined and capable machine than its predecessors, the 150 was noticeably different from its earlier siblings with a significantly higher scuttle and door line, whilst the radiator grille reverted to the thinner slats of the XK120 but was altogether wider. Larger wrap-around bumpers were fitted, a curved windscreen replaced the divided one on the XK120 and 140, and powerful, servo-assisted Dunlop disc brakes all round were a welcome addition. However, the 150 retained much of the mechanical layout of the XK140, sharing the same 3.4-litre DOHC Jaguar straight-six until, in 1960, Jaguar increased the engine size to 3.8 litres providing the later cars with a class-leading 220 bhp.

Offered here is a stunning example of a JD Classics XK150 3.8 DHC, produced when they were at the absolute top of their game and assembled by world-class technicians. In addition to the full JD Classics restoration, it was optioned with just about every JD Sports upgrade that was available at the time. The specification includes the JD Sport five-speed gearbox, sports suspension, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, sixteen-inch by six-inch wide wire wheels, uprated wiring loom, alternator electrics, handmade exhaust, aluminium radiator and cooling fan upgrade, a limited-slip differential and upgraded wiper system.

Make no mistake, this is the best driving XK150 anywhere and is nicely settled-in having covered just six thousand miles from the initial build. It just totally 'wows' with its road and touring competence and will undoubtedly continue to reward its new owner for years to come as a direct result of the world-class level of engineering competence invested in this car's build. We understand that this remarkable XK represents an investment of around a quarter of a million pounds and would not doubt that for a minute.

The car's Heritage Certificate states the date of manufacture as February 1960 and informs us that it was a left-hand drive, personal export car originally registered 3860 DU for its first owner Mr J.M. Rice and delivered through Jaguar Cars, New York, USA before returning to the UK during January 2002.

Now finished in Indigo Blue with a light grey leather interior lifted by a Burr walnut dash and capping's, topped by a dark blue mohair hood, cover and tonneau and sitting, all square, on sparkling chrome wire wheels. It's been fitted with a Kenwood sound system with a Genesis amplifier and an iPod carrier, and inertia-reel seat belts make this beautiful DHC XK150 a genuine long-distance driving proposition.

If you are seriously interested, this ultimate XK could be available for a test drive pre-auction. We cannot eulogise enough about the quality and driving experience and the standard of JD Sport products that certainly raised the whole restoration bar at the time.