EDITION 198 JAGUAR MAGAZINE 87
THREE THINGS COINCIDED TO BRING US TO THE SUBJECT OF OUR BUYER'S
Guide for this edition. On our recent visit to Auckland we could not help but admire
the beautiful red XK150S 3.8 litre Fixed Head Coupé of Jaguar Drivers Club Editor
and Vice President Bill Crook.
Our previous cover story centred on a significant example of the same model which
has returned to Melbourne courtesy of Jordan Roddy. Then the indentical extremely
original and unspoiled Cotswold Blue model which had belonged to our Editor's
family from 1972, has arrived back onto the market.
That got us thinking at length about what is the ultimate XK150 variation running the
same triple 2" SU carburettor engine as the then soon-to-be E-Type with its straight
port head.
Obviously, we can talk about the 'S' from personal experience, and hope to
encourage serious enthusiasts or collectors to consider the same car which
enthralled the Hughes family for so long, and which remains sentimental about it.
Forget the XK150's looks and performance for a minute, because while the XK150
with its 3.4 litre engine was introduced in 1957, the 'S' did not come into the range
until 1958 with the 3.4. The 3.8 S followed in 1960. If you are thinking about rarity,
a mere 111 RHD XK150S 3.8 Coupés were built, and probably around one third of
those no longer exist.
As for the editor's former car, it has not been sold since 2004, having left the factory
on May 24, 1960 bound for Henlys in London. It appears to have been sold to
Australian motoring journalist Ian Frazer, former editor of Wheels (Australia) and CAR
(UK) magazines. He purchased it through dealer and coach builder Harold Radford
and kept it until 1964 when it was imported by Alec Mildren in Canberra. It was sold
in 1966 by the famous Geoghegan family to flamboyant singer and songwriter Peter
Allen. Another owner in Sydney was Lance McMahon, originally from Toowoomba,
who made his name in Melbourne where he was a Jaguar mechanical specialist and
owned the ex-Hugh Bryson factory-built 4.2 litre E-Type FHC racer. That car is still in
his family.
From September 1969, until Les. Hughes bought it three years later, it sat in
Roydon's Motor Wreckers with the head off. Inspired by the Matthews car seen in
our previous edition, it was put back on the road quickly and never went off. The car
was gradually refurbished to become a regular concours winner. In 2004 it was sold
to the now-late owner in Adelaide, whose family is offering it for sale once again in
exceptional original condition.
Six 3.8 litre FHC XK150S's were sold new in Australia, with a further six privately
imported. All are believed to still exist. Only 312 3.8 litre 'S' engines were built for
RHD XK150's of all varieties. The noise is intoxicating, and the comfort exceptional
for its era. It can be hot inside though because of the exhaust pipes.
We believe the XK150 is a great looker. Production ended in October 1960, and
totalled 2265 Roadsters, 4445 Fixed Head Coupés and 2672 Drop Head Coupés.06
07
01/02 The gorgeous XK150S 3.8 FHC of Auckland's Bill Crook is a spectacular machine. We
are not certain if it was a standard fitting, but most S models seem to have the boot rack fitted.
03 A sight to behold - at least six XK150s in a line-up headed by the Hughes S.
04 In the classic movie Play Mist y For Me, actor Clint East wood drove this XK150. 05 Another
of the 111 3.8 S FHCs. 06 The Hughes XK150S and MkVII were concours winners.
07 Shortly before it was sold to Adelaide, our editor photographed the car at Albert Park.05
04