beach -
California cars
A visit to the scenic
hills filled with lush, colorful grapes and vines in the town of Ophir,
California can include a stop by award-winning Ophir Winery. Art and
wine tours held some weekends offer a glimpse into the burnished hillsides
where gold was found over 150 years ago. The 21st century gold are
rich crops of grapes that produce delicious wines.
What better place to park
a classic Jaguar convertible circa 1960! So busy sipping wine
and meeting the vintners were we, we did not jot down the age and style of
car show above. Best guess is a classic jag.
1960 Jaguar XK 150 DHC
Jaguar turned the
motoring world upside-down when it introduced the XK 120 in 1948. It
combined a powerful 160-bhp twin-cam straight-six with the most sensuous
body ever seen on a production automobile. The combination of the 120-mph
top speed, beauty and value had the celebrities lining up. A 3.4-liter
twin-cam engine to a four-speed Moss gearbox. Front suspension was
independent by torsion bars, while the driven solid rear axle was
suspended—and located—by longitudinal leaf springs.
A fixed-head coupe and a drophead coupe soon joined the original OTS (open
two-seater). In 1954, the XK 120 was superceded by the more luxurious XK
140, which adopted the 190-bhp engine as its base power plant and offered
much more comprehensive bumper protection. Using the cylinder head from the
Le Mans-winning C-type, the Special Equipment XK 140—often referred to as
the MC—was propelled by a 210-bhp version of the lusty 3.4-liter engine.
The final iteration of the classic Jaguar XK came along in 1957 with the XK
150. The 3.4-liter engine remained essentially unchanged, as did the
102-inch wheelbase. However, the extensive alterations to the body made this
look almost like an entirely new car, although the Jaguar family resemblance
was still striking. The big news, though, was that every XK 150 came
standard with four-wheel disc brakes, the innovation that had helped the
famed Coventry marque conquer Le Mans repeatedly. Like the XK 140 it
replaced, the 150 was offered from the onset in open two-seater, fixed-head
coupe, and drophead coupe forms. Arguably the most elegant of the XK 150
line, the drophead offered greater comfort and superior weather protection
than the OTS model.
This spectacular XK 150 was delivered new to Vancouver, British Columbia, in
1960. Although it has always been a Canadian car, it is absolutely
rust-free. In the mid-’90s, the car was stripped to the base metal and
refinished in gleaming British Racing Green. The owner proudly states that
the body was prepared by “an English panel beater” who used only lead solder
in those instances where filler was required. Inside, the interior is
trimmed in tan leather and the top is of black mohair cloth. To set off the
gleaming rich green paint and contrasting tan upholstery, the car rolls on
correct 16-inch chrome wire wheels.
The most striking feature of the XK 150 drophead coupe is that there really
isn’t any collectible car that is directly comparable. With more than 200
horses on tap, an all-day cruising capability at speeds over 100 mph,
four-wheel disc brakes more than able to rein those horses in and a
spacious, leather-trimmed interior fitted with luxurious wood and a lined
convertible top, it was really the first true convertible touring car. It
certainly wasn’t a sporting automobile; leave that to its XK 120 and XK 140
predecessors. This was, in fact, the convertible version of the
executive-express sports sedan, the Mark 1, that Jaguar created during the
same period.
The XK 150 was fatter, heavier and less responsive—one of the period road
tests called it “podgy”—than other two-seat sports cars of the day. But it
was also more reliable and more comfortable while giving up nothing in top
speed. If you’re thinking of taking a thousand-mile tour among New England’s
forests or the mountains of Colorado, this is the car for you. Just don’t
expect to make fastest time of day in the Jaguar Club autocross.
Buying an XK 150 should be done very carefully. Philip Porter, one of the
world’s experts on all things Jaguar, says, “buying an XK is a high-risk
sport… The cars are without doubt among the most difficult to restore.”
Years Produced 1957-60
Number Produced Approx. 2,600
Original List Price $4,763
SCM Valuation $32,000-$47,500
Chassis # Location Plate riveted to engine compartment firewall on right
side of car
Engine # Location Stamped on engine block above oil filter
Club Info Jaguar Clubs of North America, 888/258-2524
Alternatives Jaguar XK 140 DHC, Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8, AC Ace Bristol,
Porsche 356B Cabriolet, Aston Martin DB2/4 DHC
www.placertourism.com
