This Absurdly Rare 1960 Jaguar XK150S on Bonhams Is the Cheapest One on Earth
Vintage Jaguars are some of the most beautiful objects on Earth. Whether you are a vintage car nerd or not, anyone can recognize the beauty of a 1960 Jaguar XK150S. Now, it may take a bit more of a trained eye to see the beauty in the cheapest XK150S on Earth. As the pictures show, this vintage Jag is cheap for a reason.
What makes the 1960 Jaguar XK150S so special?
1960 marked the final and most powerful version of the iconic Jaguar XK150S. This model had 265 hp and a top speed of 135 mph which was mind-melting for the time. This vintage sports car is the real deal.
Clearly, the one pictured here on Silodrome ain’t hitting no 135 mph as is. Silodrome reports that this bashed-up legend got its wrinkles when its current owner took it out for a rip in 1996 in the rain and lost control and bumped into a tree. Thankfully, the driver walked away unharmed.
After the crash, he had the vintage Jaguar towed back home, where he stashed the battered remains in his garage, where it has sat ever since. The 1960 Jaguar XK150S was finally pulled out recently to take photos for the upcoming auction at Bonhams.
The listing lists the estimated price range as $14,000-$21,000. If the bids land as predicted, this will undoubtedly be the cheapest XK150S on the market by a long shot. The median value of these cars is typically around $100,000 for decent examples.
1960 Jaguar XK150S specs
The XK150 came as the last of the XK line, starting with the Jaguar XK120, which debuted in 1948. The XK140 came next and then was quickly replaced by the big dog, the 1960 Jaguar XK150.
The Jaguar XK120 was the fastest production car in the world at the time of its birth. The top speed was 120 mph which for the time might as well have been 10,000,000 mph. Each next version that came up bumped that top speed up a touch until the XK150S with its 135 mph.
Jaguar has always been a symbol of the upper crust, even in 1948. That first XK120 was not only fast, but it was luxurious, too. Each next model, the XK140 and the XK150, and XK150S, all got faster and nicer with each model. So not only was the 1960 XK150S the fattest of the line, but it was also the nicest.
It’s no surprise that the Jaguar XK150 was driven by superstars like Clark Gable back in the day. Clark Gable’s XK was a sharp little open roof roadster. However, the XK was only offered in hard-top or drop-top until much later.
The Jag still has plenty of value
The engine in the XK has won multiple world racing championships over the years. This is why even though this wrecked, very rare Jaguar XK150S is still valued at around $20,000. The wrecked one for sale still has the original motor, transmission, gearbox, chassis, and more still intact. The motor, in particular, is where a great deal of value still resides.
Aside from the parts, any XK has value. They are rare, beautiful, fast, and luxurious pieces of engineering that the car world simply won’t let unnoticed and unappreciated.
