Description
1959 Jaguar XK150S 3. 8 Coupe
This is a very rare car, one of only 115 RHD Jaguar XK150S 3. 8 Coupes built of which 39 were built in 1959. The S had many performance upgrades from the already powerful Jaguar sports car, most notably triple SU 2” carburettors, straight port head, 9:1 compression and uprated brakes. This example has matching numbers with sensible upgrades (electronic power steering, 123 electroinc ignition and expansion tank off the radiator making it the perfect car for rallies and European jaunts as the current and a former owner have used it.
Supplied new by the main London Jaguar dealer to the first owner, Mr DW Harrision, on 1st December 1959 with the registration it carries to this day, 7232 PO. Scroll forward to 1970 and Australian dentist Dexter Giblin bought 7232 PO for European and UK rallies and the official XK historian David Bentley recalls seeing it at this time in Germany on one of Dexter’s adventures. In 1974 Dexter exported the car to Australia and in 1978 took the car off the road for an extensive restoration. He kept the car until 1986 when he sold it to Lord McAlpine.
Lord McAlpine, a close ally of Magaret Thatcher and at one point in the 1980’s Treasurer of the Conservative Party, also had considerable business activities in Australia developing commercial property including the first 5 Star hotel in Perth. He kept this XK150S until 1989 before selling to well-known car trader Terry Cohn. Unusually for a trader he kept the car until 1994 when he sold it Michael Holmes who coincidentally lived in the same town in West Sussex as the first owner 35 years before! He kept the car for 10 years before selling in 2004 to Robin Webb, founder of the short lived Superleague Formula, linking single seaters to football!
Robin Webb kept the 7232 PO until 2014 when XK specialist Twyford Moors sold the car to the current owner for £77, 500.
Since 1990 the file carries invoices totalling £45, 000 of which £29, 000 has been spent by the last two owners including a £12, 500 invoice from Twyford Moors in 2010.
Having had continuous use since Dexter Giblin bought the car in 1970 it is ready for the next custodian to have more road trips!
