Beschreibung:

1959 JAGUAR XK150 3.8S DROPHEAD COUPE Registration No. TRF 709 Chassis No. T827599DN Engine No. VAS 1225-9 British Racing Green with green leather interior Engine: six cylinder, double overhead camshaft, 3,781cc c.265bhp at 5,600rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual with overdrive; Suspension: front, independent, rear, live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: servo-assisted four wheel disc. Right hand drive The XK series (with the 150 as the final evolution) came about almost by accident. The 120 was only to have been a limited production run of 200 cars to publicize the new XK engine, designed for saloons. After the 1948 launch at the London Motor Show, where it was undeniably the sensation of the show, the response was so strong that bodywork casts were prepared and twelve thousand XK120s were subsequently sold. The XK140 followed in 1954 and the 150 in 1957. The 150 had various styling developments over the 140 including a wrap-around windscreen and a new 'hip line'. A slightly wider body and slimmer doors provided considerably more interior room. With massive torque from a powerplant tuned to give maximum power at lower revolutions than before, these models offered surging acceleration to beyond 120mph. There was revised rack and pinion steering and, with the new disc brakes and improved headlamps, the XK150 was the most capable Jaguar high-speed grand touring car yet. The Autocar's testers approved the adjustable steering column, upright seat squab and generous seat adjustment and thought that directional stability 'added to the crew's confidence'. Few of its European competitors, not even the exotica, could outperform the XK150 and none could out-brake it. Just as previous XK Jaguars had, this version delivered unbeatable value for money with all that effortless performance. Very late in the production of the XK150, Jaguar produced an even more powerful version with the engine bored out to 3.8 litre 'S' specification. Just 89 of these models were originally produced, of which around half were delivered in right hand drive. This ultra rare XK 150 3.8S Drophead Coupé was sold new through Henlys of London and first registered on 25th July 1960 with the numberplate 'AET 9'. Its original livery was Cotswold Blue with a light blue interior as confirmed by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. The car's original log book provides the car's early history, noting Chipstead Motors Ltd, Holland Park Avenue as the first owner, then selling to Andrew Trafford of Rudgwick, Sussex on 19th September 1960. Shortly after acquisition Mr Trafford registered the car with the numberplate it wears today 'TRF 707' and 3 years later he sold it to Patrick Roberts of Halesworth, Suffolk. In 1965 it passed to Ronald Harrison of Gorleston, Great Yarmouth., a year later in July to a local gentleman, Frank Raine and in September 1977 to Guy Bergeaud of Brentwood, Essex. In June 1986 it was purchased by collector Michael Brown of Leeds. By 1990 the car was in extremely tired order and Mr Brown made the momentous decision to commission a complete body off, ground up restoration of the car. The extent of this work is charted through a series of photographs taken throughout the rebuild. Completed in the early 1990s, the work was of such a quality that today the car remains in excellent order throughout, while MoTs record modest mileage of around 10,000 in the last 15 years. The car comes with an original handbook for the XK150 model and 'S' Supplementary instructions, with original maintenance chart. A highly collectible Jaguar in concours order.