1959 Jaguar XK150 'S' Roadster
- Engine
- 3.8L inline-six (upgraded from original 3.4L inline-six during 1985 factory rebuild)
A rare right-hand drive Jaguar XK150 'S' Roadster of 1959, chassis T820044DN, originally fitted with the 3,442cc engine and one of only 44 such cars built in this specification. In 1985 the Coventry factory rebuilt the car and installed a more powerful 3,781cc unit; the original short engine is retained. The interior and hood remain original factory items, and the car carries a floor-activated overdrive. Since 1969 ownership is documented through a continuous chain of recorded custodians.
Ownership
- 2024-12-12Auction saleEstimate £80,000 – £120,000
- → 1971Kardly Knapppartial documentation
Listed as owner in the period logbook as of 1969; no records exist for any earlier custodians.
- 1971 →Private saleAlan Ensoll (Sales) Ltdpartial documentation
Acquired from Knapp; a Jaguar dealership. Title was subsequently transferred to Alan Ensoll's wife.
- → 1993Acquisition unknownMrs Ensoll (wife of Alan Ensoll)partial documentation
Received title from her husband; arranged the 1985 factory rebuild and engine upgrade to 3.8 litres while still under the Ensoll ownership. A 1992 declaration by B M Ensoll confirms the odometer reflects mileage since the 1985 restoration.
- 1993 → 2003Private saleRobin Horsellpartial documentation
Purchased from Mrs Ensoll; some maintenance invoices from this period survive in the history file.
- 2003 → 2024-09-01Acquisition unknownW Howard Carterfull documentation
Yorkshire businessman who held the car for over two decades; full maintenance records from his ownership are available. He gifted the vehicle to a Keighley-based local charity in September 2024.
- 2024-09-01 →InheritanceKeighley-area community charitypartial documentation
Received the car as a donation from the previous owner; consigning it at auction to support a fundraising campaign targeting £5 million for a community project.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1985RestorationJaguar Coventry works
Full factory rebuild carried out at the Jaguar Coventry works, at which point the original 3.4-litre engine was replaced with a genuine 3.8-litre unit. The car also received an electronic ignition system and a coolant expansion tank during this rebuild.
Arranged by Jaguar dealer Alan Ensoll. British Leyland service booklet documents the period from this rebuild through to 1990. MOT certificates exist for all years 1985–2018 except gaps in 2004–2005 and 2007–2008.
- 1994Maintenance
A detailed record of all work carried out and parts purchased is available in the history file, covering the period from March 1994 through to September 2021.
History file inspection recommended; copy invoices since 2003 also included, with a few dating back to 1993.
- 2024Inspection
Vehicle passed its MOT examination and was confirmed by the recent owner to be fully roadworthy and in very good overall condition.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.