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The Jaguar XK 150 in the test mirror of its time

Name: Jaguar XK 150 1960
Brand: Jaguar

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Created on September 26, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Tom Wood - Courtesy RM Auctions

RM Auction

Fluid Images Courtesy of RM Auctions

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Tom Wood - Courtesy RM Auctions

RM Auction

Fluid Images Courtesy of RM Auctions

Archiv

Jaguar XK150 S 3.4-Litre Roadster (1959) - Lot 181 - offered but not sold at the RM Auctions London sale in October 2012

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The front of a Jaguar XK 120 is reflected on the wet concrete floor ... and illustrates the title perfectly. Hopefully our readers will forgive us for the fact that it's a 120 instead of a 150 ...

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Jaguar XK 150 Drophead Coupé (1960) - on a dusty road

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Jaguar XK 150 Drophead Coupé (1958) - harmonious shot in the park

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Jaguar XK 150 Open Two Seater (1959) - the XK 150 no longer had low-cut doors

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Jaguar XK 150 (1958) - edited factory photo

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Jaguar XK 150 Cabriolet (1958) - in a sales brochure

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Jaguar XK 150 Coupé (1958) - in a sales brochure

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Jaguar XK 150 FHC (1958) - in a sales brochure

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Jaguar XK 150 S (1960) - photo from the 1990s

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Jaguar XK 150 S DHC (1959) - at the Gaisbergrennen 2012 - sports car class

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Jaguar XK 150 OTS (1958) - at the Saalbach Classic 2013

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Jaguar XK 150 S OTS (1959) - at the Saalbach Classic 2013

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Jaguar XK 150 (1959) - at the Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP3 102)

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Jaguar XK 150 S (1959) - a good roof helps against the rain - at the OSMT Corso Zug 2011

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Jaguar XK 150 3.8 Drophead Coupé (1960) - offered at the RM Auction of Monterey on August 19 and 20, 2011

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Jaguar XK150 S 3.8 Roadster (1960) - auctioned as lot 245 by RM Auction London September 8/9, 2013

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Summary

From 1957 to 1961, Jaguar built the XK 150, the last and most comfortable version of the XK series. Heavier, larger inside and, with the S and 3.8-liter versions in particular, with a more powerful engine, the XK models remained comparatively inexpensive sports cars that could also keep far more expensive thoroughbreds in check on the road. This article delves into the test reports of the time and describes how the reporters of the automotive press experienced the car at the time.

This article contains the following chapters

Comparison scale changed
Shedding fat and becoming more comfortable
The perfect touring car?
Sophisticated design
Very fast car
Too far away from the D-Type?
Test results in comparison
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

With the Jaguar XK 120, the small manufacturer in Coventry had landed a success. At the time, there was hardly a similarly fast sports car for sale at a lower price. The history that had already landed a direct hit with the SS 90 and SS 100 had been repeated. The XK 120 evolved into the XK 140 and finally, in 1957, the XK 150. It had become bigger and more comfortable, but only slightly faster. Nevertheless, the car press welcomed it with open hands. The XK 150 had a far more difficult task to fulfill than its predecessor, the XK 120. On the one hand, comfort requirements had grown steadily, while on the other, Jaguar had shown what it was capable of with the C- and D-Types on the racetracks. Compared to the D-Type in particular, the XK 150 already looked a little old-fashioned in 1957, but under the bodywork it was possible to obtain engine performance similar to that of the endurance racers.

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