1960 Jaguar XK 150 3.8

Finished in Old English White with a black leather interior, ‘YSJ 598’ is a Jaguar XK150 Fixed-Head Coupé that is fitted with the 3.8-litre engine and sits on a set of chromed wire wheels.

Believed to be a matching numbers car, this left-hand drive example spent its first half-century in the United States, going its first owner via Jaguar cars New York.

It arrived back in the UK in 1989 to be fully restored, and has been in the same hands since being registered in 1999.
 

Old English White is possibly our favourite colour for the model. Elegant and simple and utterly timeless, just park it on a village green and you’re instantly transported back to a gentler, softer time.

Of course, the colour counts for naught if the underlying metalwork isn’t up to scratch. Luckily this one is, with undamaged and rust-free panels as neatly aligned as any we’ve seen.

No signs of aging via problems such as ripply flanks either, just very good shutlines and some rather fetching chrome decoration, including straight bumpers and an impressive radiator grille.

The chromed trinkets are extensive and include a set of chromed wire wheels. Twinkling and free of rust and pitting, they are in an very good condition.

They are also fitted with a matching set of 185R16 Avon Turbosteel tyres, a fitment that even extends to the spare. All have good tread left on them and we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Other highlights include the Jaguar emblem on the headlamps, impressively well preserved badges on the bonnet and boot lid, a pair of pressed aluminium numberplates, very good lamp lenses, and the iconic ‘leaper’ on the bonnet.

As for flaws, the area between the leading edge of the offside door and the A-pillar isn’t to the same high standard as everywhere else. There are a few touched-in marks too, most obviously on the top of the nearside door where it meets the window frame and the offside door just above the handle.

Trivial stuff then.
 

The interior is elegant, unpretentious, and utterly beguiling, not least because of how well it has been maintained since being restored.

Featuring simple black trim and a few judiciously appointed chromed controls, the XK150’s of-the-period straight-leg driving position is reinforced by a vertical four-spoke steering wheel and a nigh-on horizontal gearlever, a combination that’s so charming it makes even a trip to the shops an experience to savour.

The pale finish of the central dash panel allows the simplicity of the Smiths instruments to shine; where the E Type went all-in on an aeroplane-style array, the XK150 is content to give the driver a similar level of information but in a quieter way.

As for its condition, the front seats are still plump and boast virtually unmarked covers – but then the car has seen only the very lightest of use, with the odometer only having increased by around 1,500 miles since online MoT record started in 2006.

The rear seats might be vestigial but they’re usable by adults in extremis. However, they would be the perfect nest for your grandchildren – and can you imagine the excitement as your roll up in your classic Jaguar sportscar to whisk them away to the seaside for the day?

Only signs of fastidious curation include an unmarked and beautifully lined cubbyhole to the left of the steering wheel, a pair of Perspex sunvisors, a taut and clean headlining, and a natty little hidey-hole above the rear seat for the kids to stash secrets in.

The black carpets are excellent, with an unmarked driver’s heel pad plus soundproofing underneath and overmats above.

As for the (very well trimmed) boot, lifting the spare wire wheel out shows only solid and well-painted metal underneath. There’s a mallet in there too, plus a jack and a comprehensive tool kit that even includes a grease gun; this is a very well-equipped grand touring car.

Things you might like to take a look at include the trim on the offside A-pillar, which is peeling away. The lining of the boot lid also needs tidying, and there’s some glue residue in the nearside door opening.

More trivia, therefore.
 

The XK150 received some attention in February 2025, being treated to a pre-sale service and recommission that included having the brakes overhauled and the two six-volt batteries replaced.

Sounds like a simple job, doesn’t it? Well, it might have been simple for the guys and gals at Motorvation but the fact the bill for the wheel cylinders alone came to almost a thousand pounds helps explain how it managed to rack up a £5,376 bill.

There are other impressive bills on file too; this is clearly a car for whom money was not begrudged.

It’s paid off though because we took it out for a quick test drive and our man came back and reported that it “drives well”, which is high praise indeed from him.

As you can see in the video, it also starts well, idles cleanly, and revs smoothly – and it does it all while making all the right noises, especially from the twin tailpipes. Just as importantly, it also shows a healthy charge to the battery and good oil pressure.

Nor have the hidden bits been neglected because the engine and underbonnet area are both clean and beautifully labelled; the straight-six is a good looking engine anyway but the attention to detail that’s gone into this one elevates the canon even further.

The underside is slightly grubby and features a few spots of light surface rust on some of the steel components, but that this is the worst we can say of it speaks volumes as to how good it looks under there.

As for mechanical faults, the only thing we spotted is the offside rear corner seems to sit a little high.

Yup, only one trivial stuff for you to do.
 

Despite not needing one, the Jaguar’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2026 – and not only does it hold a current ticket, the one it holds is free of advisories, just like every single one since 2015.

That’s mightily impressive, isn’t it?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and the history file includes a Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate that confirms its specification and history.

We are told it’s still a ‘matching numbers’ car, which might not be a detail the casual passerby will appreciate but it is an important factor in assessing the car’s desirability and value.

The file also contains a bunch of old invoices, many expired MoT certificates, the Operating, Maintenance and Service Handbook, some importation paperwork from 1989 (it was only registered here in 1999 from what we can tell), and a Certificate of Title from the ‘States.
 

The Jaguar XK150 is a timeless car, and while the desirability of some of its contemporaries is starting to wane as enthusiasts discover the delights of more modern classics, the XK-series has proven to be immune as buyers still appreciate what great cars they are to both own and drive, something that isn’t always the case…

And while we are sure you could buy a cheaper example of the breed, given its condition, provenance, and matching numbers status, we aren’t sure you’ll be able to find one that represents better value for the £45,000 to £55,000 we think this one will fetch.

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