1959 Jaguar XK150 DHC

A Heritage Certificate in the large history file shows that this Jaguar XK150 3.4 litre was manufactured on the 15th of July 1959. It has the following authenticated numbers: chassis – S 827427 DN: engine - V 7170 8: body – P 7759: gearbox - JLS 44418 JS.

The ‘S’ suffix on the chassis number indicates that this is the SE, or Special Equipment, model.

Most of the cars destined for export were SE models, and this shining example of automotive excellence (and the restorer’s craft) is no exception.

This XK150 DHC was exported from new to Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa in 1959.

How, what, who, why….are just some of the questions that spring to mind when we consider that mind-boggling revelation.

Anyway, we’re prepared to bet the farm that this was the only XK150 in Liberia in 1959. In fact, we’re confident that it’s almost certainly the only XK150 that’s ever been to Liberia.

Should you ever find yourself yearning to embark upon a motoring tour of Liberia, you’ll be relieved to know that the car’s Liberian number plates are in the boot.

The vendor was a personal friend of the late owner of the car and has known of and about this XK150 for the last decade of his friend’s ownership.

When the owner bought the car from its one previous UK owner in 2011 it had already had a fair bit of mechanical work done to it and had been lovingly - and expertly - cared for thought its life in the UK.

The most recent owner (the vendor’s friend) had started out in the motor trade and had served his apprenticeship as a panel beater and bodywork specialist.

He then went on to considerable success as a property developer, and so found himself in the happy position of having both the skills and the depth of pockets required to take this car to the next level.

The result is, we’re prepared to say, almost certainly the finest XK150 we’ve yet had though our doors.

And we’ve had some eye-poppingly good ones.

The quality of the restoration work is exemplary in every way and the car drives with all the urgency, balance, poise and class you could wish for.

It’s properly screwed together, doesn’t rattle, clunk or creak, and goes about its business with truly grin-inducing aplomb.

There are photographs showing the exhaustive, painstaking and no-doubt excruciatingly expensive progress of the restoration work.

The condition of this car is nothing short of remarkable, particularly when you consider that it first put its rubber on the road in 1959, when Elvis, Lonnie Donegan and Ray Charles were in the charts, Ben-Hur and Some Like It Hot were in the cinema, and Fidel Castro had just secured revolutionary victory in Cuba.

It is a quite superb example of a XK150 manual/overdrive 3.4 litre DHC.

The Carmen Red paintwork is as good as it gets. It’s bright and deep and shiny and lustrous. A joy to behold.

We found no rust anywhere. Nor did we find any road rash worthy of the name or any stone chips.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this car had spent most of its life lying on a chaise longue, possibly while wearing a silk smoking jacket and sipping a margarita.

It’s pure class.

All the chrome work, badging and trim is shiny. Even the slightly misleading ‘S’ badging (it’s an SE, but it’s not the sportier and rarer ‘S’).

The panels are free of any dinks, dimples, dents, scuffs or creases.

The door gaps and shut lines are as crisp and even as anything Good King Wenceslas ever looked out upon.

The headlamps and foglamps are clear and bright. The foglamps, incidentally, were ordered as options from new.

Do they get much fog in Liberia?

The wheels are in excellent condition and the tyres seem to be only barely acquainted with road surfaces.

The hood goes up and down without inducing either sweating or swearing. It keeps the rain out and invites the sunshine in as appropriate and as intended.

The only minor faults we could find were a petrol cap cover that doesn’t sit entirely squarely within its surround and a very small chip in the glass at the bottom of the windscreen.

That’s it.

Hardly deal breakers are they?

The good news continues unabated on the inside, where the cream leather upholstery with red piping looks simply gorgeous.

Everything appears pretty much new and unused – because it is. This top-quality restoration makes the car seem almost factory-fresh, with pristine mats and carpets, flawless door cards and an unblemished roof lining.

The dashboard is beautifully presented with its red leather surround and array of clear Smiths instruments and dials.

The seat structures are firm, supportive and comfortable, with only the lightest creasing visible.

As far as we can tell, every switch, lever, knob, toggle and button does what it’s meant to do.

This is a simple, uncluttered cabin and, unlike in an XK120, you can fit comfortably inside it even if you’re over 6ft tall and you’re not averse to the occasional pie.

The boot area is freshly carpeted, nicely detailed and includes a spare wheel, and the usual knock-off spinner tools.

Plus, of course, a vital set of Liberian number plates.

Lift up the carpets anywhere in the boot or elsewhere on the car and you’ll see…no rust whatsoever anywhere.

All in all, the interior of this car is a simply splendid place to be and is really very classy indeed.

The undersides are clean, free from all but the standard bloom of rust dust and exhibit a decent coating of Waxoyl.

There is a stainless steel exhaust system in evidence. Overall, the undersides appear to have a great deal of structural and mechanical integrity – as even the briefest perusal of the restoration photographs should confirm.

Everything under the bonnet is clean, dry, immaculate and pristine.

And everything is in good order and in its right and proper place.

Reassuringly, even areas that will never see the light of day have been expertly painted and finished.

As much of the restoration was done personally by the last owner there is only a truncated and somewhat thin trail of bills and invoices.

Sadly, the history of the renovation and exactly what work was undertaken was lost when the owner passed on. That said, the photographic record of the restoration is extensive.

There are also a few itemized receipts for parts ordered from XK specialists Guy Broad.

The car doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT certificate is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored and maintained to the very highest level.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Despite the lack of comprehensive history, the fabulous quality and condition of this car should be blindingly obvious to anyone who cares to look.

It’s apparent that everything – and we mean everything – that needed replacing, restoring, refurbishing, fettling, tweaking, buffing or burnishing has been addressed and sorted.

No car is perfect, but this is about as near as you can get without disappearing down the bottomless rabbit hole that is the mad, mad world of concours.

All the hard yards been done by people who clearly knew what they were doing and weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and write a few cheques as and when necessary.

You’ll kick yourself if you don’t come and have a look.

No, really, you will.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of between £55,000 and £70,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.