No-one would ever use the term unassuming for an XK150 Drophead Coupé, but amongst the hall of fame that is the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust vehicle collection, this standard 1958 example is as near as it comes. The car has no racing history; it was never owned by royalty nor has it smashed any endurance records. It is simply an ordinary classic Jaguar on the street, if such a notion was conceivable.
In 1958 Jaguar was in great shape, thriving on the prestige afforded by five Le Mans victories during that decade, a marketing advantage fully exploited by the company and proudly proclaimed on the boot badge adorning the XK150. All requirements for the discerning motorist were covered by the Jaguar model range during a time when the economy was booming. The compact Mk1 had modernised into the Mk2 and the MkVIII was being augmented by the MkIX flagship. As for the XK150, its contemporary update over the XK120/140 predecessors was a resounding success, supplemented by the introduction of the Open Two- Seater. This offered the ultimate in sporting prowess especially when it received the enlarged 3.8-litre engine created for the Mark IX. During these heady days of Jaguar’s acclaim an order arrived at Henlys of London for delivery to a customer in Brighton. The vehicle requested was an XK150 Drophead
