Jaguar XK150S (Production 1958 - 1960)
By the time the late 50's rolled around, the very sporty post war jaguar XK120 had evolved to a rather bulbous and stodgy looking vehicle of it's former very beautiful self. The sleek somewhat sensuous lines of the 120 were traded for slab sides offering a bit more interior room for the inhabitants, but IMO, with far less style.
The XK150S had a respectable horsepower rating of 265 bhp with triple SU carbs, and a first ever on any production car at the time, 4 wheel Dunlap disk brakes. The following are some quotes from Rich Taylor's wonderful book, Modern Classics, and when speaking of the brakes he goes on to say, "....but that was about all you could say good about the XK150, except that it was still relatively cheap, relatively pretty if you didn't look too close, and very fast for it's size. Of Course, even a ratty Corvette would eat Jaguars for breakfast seven days till Sunday, and cost less besides.
The biggest problem with early postwar Jaguars-with any Jaguar-is simple deterioration. The front end falls apart, the Lucas electrics fall apart, the engine falls apart, the gearbox goes, likewise the interior, the paint, and the bodywork, hell, everything."
Taylor certainly gives it a bit of a checkered reputation, to say the least! In spite of all that, the XK150's are still a very desirable and classy automobiles with that traditional British eye appeal!
Jaguar XK150S (Production 1958 - 1960)
By the time the late 50's rolled around, the very sporty post war jaguar XK120 had evolved to a rather bulbous and stodgy looking vehicle of it's former very beautiful self. The sleek somewhat sensuous lines of the 120 were traded for slab sides offering a bit more interior room for the inhabitants, but IMO, with far less style.
The XK150S had a respectable horsepower rating of 265 bhp with triple SU carbs, and a first ever on any production car at the time, 4 wheel Dunlap disk brakes. The following are some quotes from Rich Taylor's wonderful book, Modern Classics, and when speaking of the brakes he goes on to say, "....but that was about all you could say good about the XK150, except that it was still relatively cheap, relatively pretty if you didn't look too close, and very fast for it's size. Of Course, even a ratty Corvette would eat Jaguars for breakfast seven days till Sunday, and cost less besides.
The biggest problem with early postwar Jaguars-with any Jaguar-is simple deterioration. The front end falls apart, the Lucas electrics fall apart, the engine falls apart, the gearbox goes, likewise the interior, the paint, and the bodywork, hell, everything."
Taylor certainly gives it a bit of a checkered reputation, to say the least! In spite of all that, the XK150's are still a very desirable and classy automobiles with that traditional British eye appeal!