Several decades ago, old British sports cars were bought by impecunious enthusiasts simply because they wanted to own a 'sports car'. If (when) they broke down, they were fixed using whatever parts were available, if they were scratched an aerosol can from the motor factors would sort that out and if something more substantial was required, there was always your brother's mate Brian who worked at Patrick Motors and did a bit of welding and spray painting at home at the weekend. MGs, TRs, Sunbeam Alpines, Jaguar XKs it didn't really matter, you were young and the Sun was always shining. Fast forward a few years and 1950s Jaguar XKs tend to fall into one of two categories. They are either 'Barn-find' cars in need of a substantial restoration but offering serious potential at fairly optimistic asking prices or a totally restored example with five years of invoices from a celebrity restorer offering instant access to Goodwood, Monaco or Accrington Masonic Lodge Classic Car Day at an even more substantial sum of money. It is, therefore, really refreshing to offer something a little different.

This lovely 3.4-litre XK150 Drophead Coupé, finished in Old English White with dark blue leather and a blue hood and sitting on chrome wire wheels, is a very good looking car but has no aspirations to Concours success with the meticulous planning and detailing that involves. This car is designed to be used and enjoyed, a jump in and go, 'let's take the Jag' sort of approach. Originally supplied by Guy Salmon of Thames Ditton, it's accompanied by its Heritage Certificate which confirms that all the relevant numbers in evidence today match those on the day it left Browns Lane in 1959. Restored some years ago, it was refinished in its original Old English White and has benefited from a full engine rebuild by XK specialists, P&K Thornton of Nottinghamshire. Built to SE specification, it's fitted with overdrive and has been upgraded with twin stainless steel exhausts and Coopercraft 4-pot brake calipers.

The Jaguar's history file contains some engine rebuild photographs, the Heritage Certificate, the original 'Buff' Logbook and a number of invoices confirming that the car has been lovingly maintained along the way. Built as a 'drivers car' to be used and enjoyed as originally intended, 847 KPJ is now ready to hit the open road once again.