JAGUAR XK150 vs AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000

The late Fifties saw plenty of activity in the sports car market, with British makers in particular offering an array of models to suit all pockets – including the highly affordable Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite and the rather more expensive (and more powerful) Triumph TR3 and MGA. At the top of the tree towards the end of the decade, however, were the Austin-Healey 3000 and Jaguar XK150, costing from £1168 and £1666 respectively (including Purchase Tax) by 1959.

This made the twosome featured here significantly more expensive than their bigger-selling contemporaries from Coventry and Abingdon. Each went on to be a major success, however, appealing to well-heeled buyers seeking a high-performance experience in a stylishly sporting package. And it’s a similar situation today, with both the 3000 and the XK150 having a loyal following – and, not surprisingly, hefty asking prices for the best