According to its Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, this XK 150 was built as the desirable high-performance S model with the triple-carbureted, 265-horsepower, 3.8-liter engine. It was further equipped with the manual transmission with overdrive and finished in Sherwood Green with Suede Green interior and Gunmetal soft-top—an especially appealing combination of performance and cosmetic attributes. This was an extraordinarily rare model; per Anders Ditlev Clausinger’s Jaguar XK140/XK150 In Detail, only 69 XK 150 S 3.8 Drophead Coupes were built.

The car was originally delivered in October 1960 by the long-lived and prominent London distributorship Henlys, and issued London registration plate 268 AUW. Interestingly, an earlier JDHT document names the original owner as Dr. Leivers, resident of The Cottage at Halam in Newark, Notts. Indications are that it remained afterward in England, as invoices and photographs in the file document its restoration by Marksdares Classic Cars of Somerset in the late 1980s. Afterward it relocated to Germany and then to the United States. The present owner acquired it in 2005 from the Blackhawk Collection in California.

It remains in very attractive and well-finished condition overall, although the engine compartment exhibits signs of regular driving use. Inspection shows that it retains its factory chassis number stamping, as well as the original engine block with a replacement head, number ZA 1467-9. It is accompanied by the aforementioned paperwork as well as more recent invoices from present ownership, including for a complete interior retrim in 2010.

A wonderful Jaguar to share and enjoy, this car will likely offer excellent performance and an enjoyable touring experience for its new owner both around town and on vintage rallies.