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• Auction House:
  Donington Auctions
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Motorcycles, Cars & Horse Drawn Carriages - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson
• Sale Date:
  20 Jun 2021 ~ 2pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  24
• Lot Description:
  1959 JAGUAR XK150 FHC ñ Australian delivered via Bryson Motors with overdrive
  First XK150 of the production line in 1959 and 744th built. 1 of 1368 RHD XK 150s produced.
• Notes:
  When a young William Lyons formed a small company building motorcycle sidecars, Swallow Sidecars, in 1922, one of the most successful and passionate stories in motoring history began. Lyons progressed to designing more stylish bodywork for cars, such as those made by the Standard Motor Company, and by 1931 the company's first car, the S.S.1 was on the roads. The arrangement with Standard allowed them to concentrate on coachwork and S.S. became known for rakish bodies suggesting sophistication, style and high performance. In 1935 the company made their own 2.5 and 3.5-litre engines and soon its first sports car, the SS100 Jaguar, appeared. Following the war, the SS name was dropped and the company became Jaguar Cars and the challenge for market and technical dominance commenced. Jaguar's saloon cars of the late 40s had pre-war underpinnings but William Lyons and Jaguar stole the London Motor Show in 1948, showing their exotic sports car with an exquisite body shape that stunned the world. Powered by a 3.4 DOHC straight-six motor, the Jaguar XK120 was an elite sports car for road use - the XK120 name designating its top speed in miles per hour. The orders flourished, leading Britain's crucial post-war export market to the USA. By 1950, the XK120 raced with resounding success. During 1951-1953, the XK120C, the fabled C-Type, was developed as an endurance racing version taking Jaguar on to years of success at Le Mans winning in 1951 and in 1953 and as a consequence the further development with the legendary D-Types, that won Le Mans in 1955, 56 and 57. In 1954, the XK120 was succeeded by the XK140. In 1957, the even faster XK150 was released and although bearing the design hallmarks of its predecessors, was a radically revised car. A single screen replaced the split screen, there was a shallower wing line at the doors and the bonnet was widened. The XK140's walnut dashboard was changed to leather. Suspension and chassis were very similar to the XK140 but driving feel was improved with the addition of rack and pinion steering. In his 1985 publication 'A Century of the Motor Car', motoring doyen Peter Wherrett wrote, 'The XK150 took all the ingredients that had made the XK120 so promising and combined them more effectively...its vices were less obvious and more manageable...it crystallised the motoring dreams of the 1950s.' The pinnacle of post war Jaguar design, the XK150's production ended in October 1960 after 2265 Roadsters, 4445 Fixed Head Coupes and 2672 Drophead Coupes had been built. Its successor, the E-Type began a whole new legend. This XK150 was dispatched on the 16th of January 1959 to Bryson Industries Limited, the then Jaguar distributors in Melbourne and in March 1959 was sold to its first owner, John Shepphard in Malvern. According to the Elmsgreen and McGrath book, The Jaguar XK in Australia (page 129) Maurie Vickerman was the owner in 1971, Garry Wilson had acquired the car in early 1975 and in May that year was sold to Ken and Kaye Smyth. The car was later Advertised for sale in Melbourne by dealer Bob Binks in August 1981. It is believed that it was in this period that engine was changed to enhance performance to the superior 3.8 litre powerplant. In 1985 K.McKewan owned the car and commissioned a restoration, re-trim, engine rebuild and colour change to be conducted by Peter Leech in Tasmania. The car was taken back to bare metal where it was noted that the panel work was found to be in very good condition, needing little work (a few small dints were noted on the front guards, otherwise all panel work was in as supplied from factory condition). The interior retrim was completed by motor trimmer Mike Thomas and the engine was rebuilt by Steve Johnson. The decision was made to change the colour from BRG to Old English White. All in all, the works took around 10 months to complete and the McKewans, with their fresh XK150 in tow, moved up to Queensland. The car found its way West where it was owned by P.Arnoldi in Perth, Western Australia. In November 2015 the car was acquired by Simon McGrath and remained in Western Australia. Whilst in his care the car was serviced by Jaguar Specialists Roadbend Motors and the heads rebuilt in 2016 by Chapman Brothers Automotive. The car was sold to its current owner and moved back to Melbourne in 2016. Whilst in his custodianship the clutch was replaced and a proper Borg & Beck diaphragm pressure plate was sourced, and at the same time the gearbox was stripped with bearings replaced. All the necessary parts were replaced including the clutch operating cross shaft bushes and thrust bearing. The original brake booster rebuilt with many works carried out by Downshire Motors. Mike Roddy Motors rebuilt the diff, sourced a new crown wheel and pinion as well as a replacement carrier and also had the housing (it is a Salisbury diff) properly aligned. The car has benefited from loving care and routine services such as oil change, fluid replacement and filters being carried out by the current owner, as well as other works being carried out by marque specialists. The car presents extremely well and with the addition of the 3.8 litre engine is a joy to drive. This vehicle is sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$140,000 - 150,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.