1959 Jaguar XK 150S Roadster

Jaguar people may argue, but I believe the 150’s appeal lies in the “creature comforts” our traveling companions often demand

by Carl Bomstead

Jaguar’s series of XK sports cars established the company’s reputation as a manufacturer of good-looking, fast automobiles sold at a reasonable price. The 1949 launch of the XK 120 caused a sensation and, at the time, its 120 mph top speed established it as the fastest standard production car available. The introduction of the XK 140 in 1955 saw performance increased to a top speed of 140 mph, while rack-and-pinion steering and a host of other minor modifications produced a more modern-looking and -handling car.

The XK 150, launched in the spring of 1957, was the last of the traditional 1950s Jaguar sports car before the sensational XKE came along in 1961. Although similar in appearance to its predecessors, the XK 150 was substantially different in many details. While retaining the same basic chassis, 3.4-liter engine, and 4-speed Moss transmission of the earlier cars, the XK 150 was clothed in a new, wider body. Visibility was improved by using a...