The Jaguar XK series is one of the most iconic British sports cars of all time. These cars have always been desirable, but in recent times they have begun to climb in value massively. Buying even a cheaper project car can be a big gamble. There are so many unknown factors that could break the bank. When buying a car like this 1957 Jaguar XK 150 Roadster, you want to know as much about it and what pieces are and aren’t there as possible before putting out any cash. The seller of this one has it listed here on eBay and admits that some parts are missing, although they don’t know for sure all of what is missing. What they do know is that the previous owner had planned to restore it, but after getting it pulled apart they never finished. It has been in pieces for the past 20 years, so it’s hard to say what all is lost. Like they say though, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
The XK series of cars are in very high demand, even rough examples like this one fetch considerable amounts of money. Looking this one over closely, we see lots of missing components, but we also see lots of important and hard to find bits still here too. The previous owner pulled most of the interior out and dropped it off at an upholstery shop for refinishing, but never went and picked them up. The missing pieces include the seats, dash cap, and carpets. The transmission tunnel is also missing and it is hard to say what else might be gone. The rest of the interior is present and looks to be in solid shape. The convertible top is gone, but the top frame is all there and the seller claims it goes up and down correctly.
The engine is surprisingly complete, which is a massive plus. Besides taking the interior out, the previous owner also removed the radiator and cooling fan. Thankfully, neither were sent out for restoration and are still with the car. The seller hasn’t tried to start the motor, out of fear of damaging it. It’s believed that this motor was running when the car was parked, so hopefully getting it running again won’t involve a complete rebuild. Even if it requires a full rebuild, having the original 3.4 liter inline six increases this car’s desirability significantly.
We have no doubt there are more than a few collectors out there that would love to have this project, heck we would love to have it. Our main concern is finding all the missing pieces to get it back on the road. We love original paint and we think this is the kind of patina that deserves being preserved. We wish the interior was still there or could at least be tracked down. This car has lots of potential, but is going to be a massive project to take on. If the previous owner hadn’t lost so many parts, this would make an amazing project. It will take someone with lots of experience repairing and restoring Jaguars to get this one back to tip top shape! So do you think the risk will be worth the final outcome?
A truly wonderful classic that will take a bottomless pit of cash but when your done & that HUGE twin cam( that holds what about 10 quart’s of oil ) 6 fire’s up, you won’t be sorry for all the effort & $’s that went into it, gosh I love these, 120’s 140’s 150’s.
it is at $34600 with 23 bids already ( from many different bidders ) and it still has more them six days to go. be nice to see updates on this project get posted on BF. nice find.
A true classic worthy of the investment.
I could have bought one (daily driver) in 1965 for $150, but the kid sold it without telling me.
Not that I could afford any of the XK roadsters but the XK150 windshield and straitened out side fender body line has nowhere near the appeal of the XK120 or XK140 for me. Since I am only dreaming the XK150 is out.
True, but you can make this an S & it has disks,& for that matter those 120 or 140 in a coupe have those wonderful wood dashes. But hey we can dream can’t we.
I have owned a XK120 roadster and a drop head coupe. The Roadster guys really liked my DHC because of the roll up windows and walnut interior appointments like this car has. It makes them much more useable, the plastic curtains are terrible in use and the painted plain dashes are boring after seeing the wood.
@ Dave Wrigt. In my dream the sun is always shinning, there is a cool breeze and I am cruising down a country lane. Curtains I don’t need no stinking curtains.
Agreed Dave Wrigt, much more civil but the body contour suffers a bit.
But hey in all their forms they are glorious.
British heretige may be able to help with parts or pattern. Try Gaydon museum in England British heretige museum
The only trouble with parts for this car is cost. Every nut bolt scrap of interior is available. You could actually build an entire new car if you wanted. The ex centric British either stock or reproduce everything I used to use XKSS in California. But there are many sources.
“SEATS, OLD CARPETS, DASH PAD, ETC. WERE DROPPED OFF AT AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP. CURRENTLY THEY ARE MISSING AND NO ONE HAS A CLUE AS WHERE THEY ARE”
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…So now the car is missing most of the interior. This “restoration” was started by a guy who couldn’t even drag his carcass back to the shop to pick up a redone interior. What hope would he have of even getting half way thru a restoration of an XK150 ???
If I had the power, I would make anyone who thought they could actually complete a restoration on an important vintage car like this put up a bond showing they had the cash, and then pass some fundamental shop skills before they got my OK to buy the darn car. And if they were going to rebuild the engine they would first have to complete rebuilds of 1) a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower engine; 2) a 4-cyl econobox engine; 3) a….you get the idea.
Yes, I know—-in my dreams.
Bid to at about $35K now, this is at 1/2 of the bottom of the range price for a very good driver in the SCM Guide ($70-90K), so for me this doesn’t compute. Better to save up and buy the best driver I could afford instead, and save the parts search and very tricky and involved metal work that you’d have to go through with this car.
I owned a 1960 XK 150 S (had aluminum hood and trunk) fixed head, which I bought in 1968 for $300. The good – at the time by far the fastest (acceleration and top speed), and best handling car, I had ever had. When it ran. The bad – began life a nice dark blue, previous owner had it repainted a pearl pink/purple, chrome wire wheels, on splines, one would NOT come off, despite efforts of several shops, put air in tire every day until it was CUT apart, and ruined. Fortuneatlly the spare was chrome as well, found a steel wheel for the spare. More than 10 quarts of oil, in sump, so previous owner never changed it, so engine was very worn at 60K miles. Gas line/carb system clogged up easily, so suddenly it would stop, and be towed home so fuel system could be gone through to find the obstruction, rust moving fast in the box frame members (but the hood and trunk lid were fine), and the red and grey vynal padded dash was as ugly as they come. And, the electrics (Lucas – the King of Darkness) were as bad as reputed to be. Drove home by moonlight more than once. Sold it for $300, not running, in 1973 when I lost my storage space.
The guy probably had a heart attack when he found out how much the repairs to the interior were; no doubt those seats found their way into another XK.
I’ve never seen a convertible 120 before but I have seen a coupe, I think the convertible is more desirable though, the coupe looked off somehow and I think the MGA had the same problem basically the bonnet was too long in proportions with the rest of the car. Parts are rare however so restorations could be costly and as with an ever increasing number of marques it’s becoming difficult to make a post resto profit.
SOLD – $48,200 with 59 bids!