CLASSIC DRIVE: 1958 Jaguar XK150 FHC

Originating from an era during which some of the most beautiful and stylish cars ever were produced, it should come as no surprise to find that the Jaguar XK150 FHC (fixed head coupé) exudes pure elegance. We take an example for a short drive. 

Words and pictures: Wilhelm Lutjeharms 

It is always interesting to drive two cars from the same era within a few days. A number of startling similarities and differences surface almost immediately. Although both the 1956 Land Rover Series 1 and this gorgeous 1958 Jaguar XK150 sports car come from the UK and the same era, they offer, as is to be expected, two very different driving experiences. As would a Land Rover Defender 90 and Jaguar F-type today...

History

If you mention early Jaguars, a lot of enthusiasts will first think about the design rather than the performance. But, make no mistake, these early Jaguars were very competitive in the market, and more importantly, on the race track.

In 1951 Jaguar crossed the finish line first at Le Mans with its XK120C, two years later with its Jaguar C-Type and again(!) two years later with its D-Type for three years in a row. Jaguar undoubtedly left its mark on endurance racing in the Fifties. Then in 1988 with the legendary Silk Cut XJR-9LM followed by the XJR-12 LM in 1990, Jaguar stood on the top step of the podium again at Le Mans. These early trophies mean that Jaguar’s road cars were highly respected in terms of their performance and sporting capability. 

Also keep in mind that across the channel, Porsche’s 356 was only powered by a "mere" four-cylinder engine at the time while these Jaguars offered a much larger, 3.4L in-line 6-cylinder powerplant. 

This example

This matching numbers XK150 is for sale at Creative Rides (which incidentally also has an XK120 on offer). As with nearly all classic cars, it needs some minor attention (which will be attended to before the sale) but being a 65-year old car one would expect that to be the case. There is a restoration plate above the engine bay by JK Vorlaufer & Sons (PTY) LTD in Johannesburg, which indicates a restoration some time in the car’s past. 

• If you're interested in purchasing this vehicle, go here.

Behind the wheel

I’ll be honest, it is the elegant design that appeals to me first. This cream-coloured example boasts blood-red interior trim in the cabin and once you are seated, you realise that you are very close to the floor of the car, but actually not that close to the road – ingress and egress are easy. There is also the wire-wheels with their beautiful knock-on centre pieces. 

The view through the relatively low windscreen draws your gaze over the bonnet towards the four curves of the bodywork over the front lights. I can also see the top and rear of the leaping Jaguar, perfectly in place at the end of the bonnet.

The cabin is a comfortable and luxurious environment. Behind the front seats there are two (very) small seats that are ideal for young children, but better suited to carrying luggage. At the rear there is also a sloping boot that can swallow a few more items. The result is that this Fifties sports car could also double as a practical GT.

To start the car, turn the small key to the left of the steering wheel, and then press the starter button. The engine catches almost immediately. You need to be careful with the throttle pedal while the drivetrain still warms up. Light applications are evidently better. As I pull off heading through the traffic, it is clear that some fine tuning of the carburettors will help as the engine initially coughs and splutters a bit.  

To my left is the short gearlever, tilted slightly away from the driver. This is actually ideal in terms of comfort when shifting gears. It is a basic four-speed H-pattern transmission and the short throws and mechanical nature of each shift is quite alluring. A few minutes later and I sense that the car is starting to run smoother. I head towards the scenic Boyes Drive and soon nearly all the hesitation from the engine, sensed through the throttle pedal is gone.

The engine is now happy to cruise along at a low 2 000 rpm, but when I keep it in gear the sound gets more intense towards 3 000 rpm and even 3 500 rpm. Then there is still around 1 500 rpm to use towards the end of the rev counter.

Suddenly this vintage cat feels quite quick, even more so if you remind yourself of the car’s age (65 years). I never lean hard on a classic car such as this one, but when I do apply the brakes, they do a good job of reducing speed to my desired pace.

Fitted with a set of tyres that look period correct, you realise that cornering hard is not what you want to do with this model. Cruising along, sometimes at higher speeds, is where the XK150 shines. 

The beautiful design, classic interior, performance-oriented engine together with a level of practicality make it quite a lovely classic. Also keep in mind that there are not many around and thankfully there is also an active Cape Jaguar Club as well as a number of other such organisations throughout South Africa. The latter is always of much help in terms of the classic car ownership experience. 

Specifications:

Engine: 3.4-litre, inline six-cylinder, petrol
Power: 142 kW at 5 500 rpm
Torque: 285 Nm at 2 500 rpm
Transmission: 4-speed manual, RWD
Kerb weight: ± 1 400 kg
0-100 km/h: 9.8 seconds
Top speed: 199 km/h