A couple of weeks ago I posted a link to a sad tale over on
Pistonheads.
The title was a ‘‘XK120 Banger racing’’, the title wasn’t
quite accurate the poor car in question was a XK150 FHC. It
seems the previous owner had wanted the car destroyed for
some reason. And sold it to some scrap metal people on the
condition it was cut up. The car then ended up being banger
raced, and details of this were posted onto the classic car
forum on Pistonheads. Eventually the young man who now owns
the car and had raced it joined the discussion.
It seems the car survived the experience to the extent that
he was planning to race it again at another event in the
Autumn. He has now decided that since so many people
complained about the car being treated like that he will
sell it if someone wants to rescue it.
The car is an XK150FHC 3.8 with OD. The ID plate has been
removed. I’ve been trying to get him to tell me if any of
the rest of the ID is intact but he hasn’t supplied me with any.
He is now asking �2000 for the car.
Personally I would love to rescue the car but I don’t have
anywhere to keep it and I’ve not yet plucked up the courage
to discuss the topic with SWMBO. Particularly as I need to
explain the new rear brake callipers that my current car
needs before I venture back onto the track at Goodwood at
the end of August.
If anyone here is interested then the details can be found
on the ‘‘Classic Cars and Yesterday’s Heroes’’ forum on
Pistonheads or by following
I have no interest in the car other than wishing to see one
more XK back on the roads.–
Ken XK150 FHC S824252, see her on xkdata + X300 3.2 Sport
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In reply to a message from Ken Green sent Thu 22 Jul 2010:
It sounds like the car has gone to a new home–
Ken XK150 FHC S824252, see her on xkdata + X300 3.2 Sport
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Wish I could afford to add another XK to my garage.
I’ve no connection with either car, just items I’ve come
across on the web.–
Ken XK150 FHC S824252, see her on xkdata + X300 3.2 Sport
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In reply to a message from Ken Green sent Mon 7 Nov 2011:
Hi Ken
Well at least the dear old XK150 has ended up with an
actual ‘‘racing history’’. Hopefully someone will rescue it.–
Gary Grant S818919DN
Ottawa, Canada
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In reply to a message from Mike S sent Wed 9 Nov 2011:
‘’…and used regularly for only two years before being laid up in a
less than entirely weatherproof garage. There the XK remained for
over 30 years until a passing vehicle collided with the garage and
demolished it. Offered with old-style logbook, this challenging yet
potentially most rewarding restoration project is sold strictly as
viewed. ‘’
I can see the challenging part, but honestly, I don’t see the
potential for much reward. Even to my amateur, untrained eye, that
thing screams ‘‘Parts Car.’’ If I wanted to buy that, I’d put in a 3-
figure bid and then sell what bits and peices I could before
sending a majority of the bodywork to the recycler.–
Robert Allen
Huntsville, TX, United States
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In reply to a message from rea1980 sent Wed 9 Nov 2011:
Over here the log book is worth quite lot since it can be
used to give a ‘‘new’’ car a legal personality. There was a
discussion about recreations here recently. If you want to
make a C or D (or even a recreated XK120FHC) you need a
donor car which has a log book, its personality can then be
transferred.
I didn’t see how I could get to see pictures of this XK120
from their website, I only got the text of the story.–
Ken XK150 FHC S824252, see her on xkdata + X300 3.2 Sport
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In reply to a message from Ken Green sent Wed 9 Nov 2011:
In the USA, a car’s identity is in its VIN number. There’s a
company that sells all-steel reproduction bodies of 1950’s
Chevrolets and 1960’s Mustangs as ‘‘restoration parts’’ The idea is
that you have an original car that’s too rusty to restore, you buy
a reproduction body, use the rusty hulk as a parts donor, and title
the new car with the VIN of the old one. Appearantly, as long as
no one tries to sell or license the old body as the actual car, its
perfectly legal.
That’s about all the 120 in question is good for-donating its
mechanical bits (and its legal identity) to a restoration candidate
with a sound body. I dunno why you can’t see it pictures, but the
only way this car would be worth anything would either be if Elvis
died in it, or physicists discovered iron oxide was the key to cold
fusion.–
Robert Allen
Huntsville, TX, United States
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I would love to look at the XK150 that was used in the demolition derby to
try to identify it as I believe there is a chance that with the items that
could be checked there is chance to come up with and identity.
(1) firstly to say it can’t be identified means that both the chassis
numbers have been totally ground off and this can be checked as to how well
it has been done, it may be possible to pick up part of a character
(2) one would assume body tag was unrivetted
(3) From the info and pics and looking at the car it must be possible to
identify the original colour from somewhere up under the dash.
(4) If the old metal dash panel was with the car it has the body number
engraved on it as does the dash fascia panel.
(5) by looking at the body we can break it up into which of the groups of
chassis numbers it is ie very early, early, later with heater in engine bay,
very late with late taillights holes in body for separate indicators.
(6) any signs of a trim colour.
(7) check diff ratio ie O/D car or manual/auto
(7) we can assume it is not an “S” model apart from engine bay panels.
(8) it should be possible looking at bulkhead to determine if it was an auto
(8) assuming it is not an “S” leaves only 1176 cars to pick from probably
then deduct all the Standard 150’s shipped overseas new., then deduct all
the standard 150’s we know to exist and that are identified and if we worked
out say colour and remove all cars that are not that colour and if we got
the diff ratio hey presto you would possibly be down to just a very small
handful?
In reply to a message from Terry McGrath sent Wed 9 Nov 2011:
The guy who raced it originally didn’t know that much about
Jaguars, and certainly not XK150s, so there is a good chance
that not all the evidence has been removed. They’ve said
that viewing prior to purchase won’t be allowed - which
seems odd, I would have thought that there would be less
come back selling it ‘‘as seen’’.
I resisted mentioning things like the chassis number being
in two locations, on the Pistonhead’s forum since the guy
who raced it reads that forum.
Might make an interesting puzzle for any potential buyer.–
Ken XK150 FHC S824252, see her on xkdata + X300 3.2 Sport
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Right just looking at the pics on EBAY
it has early taillights and the heater is inside the car, the car almost
certainly had O/D originally and possibly had black upholstery as per LH
sidedash panel still with car and even this could have body number on back.
So we can assume it is one of the first 584 cars as the heater in the engine
bay was introduced at 824585.
But even more simple assuming it was an O/D car due to O/D relay still being
in housing it possibly/probably still has the original gearbox in the car
certainly the gearbox top currently fitted has an XK120-150 style gearbox
top lid.
Where are denis welch motors?
regards terry----- Original Message -----
From: “Terry McGrath” <@Terry_McGrath>
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 7:19 AM
Subject: Rescuing an XK150
I would love to look at the XK150 that was used in the demolition derby to
try to identify it as I believe there is a chance that with the items that
could be checked there is chance to come up with and identity.
(1) firstly to say it can’t be identified means that both the chassis
numbers have been totally ground off and this can be checked as to how
well it has been done, it may be possible to pick up part of a character
(2) one would assume body tag was unrivetted
(3) From the info and pics and looking at the car it must be possible to
identify the original colour from somewhere up under the dash.
(4) If the old metal dash panel was with the car it has the body number
engraved on it as does the dash fascia panel.
(5) by looking at the body we can break it up into which of the groups of
chassis numbers it is ie very early, early, later with heater in engine
bay, very late with late taillights holes in body for separate indicators.
(6) any signs of a trim colour.
(7) check diff ratio ie O/D car or manual/auto
(7) we can assume it is not an “S” model apart from engine bay panels.
(8) it should be possible looking at bulkhead to determine if it was an
auto
(8) assuming it is not an “S” leaves only 1176 cars to pick from probably
then deduct all the Standard 150’s shipped overseas new., then deduct all
the standard 150’s we know to exist and that are identified and if we
worked out say colour and remove all cars that are not that colour and if
we got the diff ratio hey presto you would possibly be down to just a very
small handful?
In reply to a message from Terry McGrath sent Sat 12 Nov 2011:
Hello Terry.
Denis Welch. Denis Welch Motors, (or Motorsport as he’s known)is a
highly regarded Healey/Jaguar ‘specialist’ mainly known for Healey
engines. From Burton on Trent. UK. See website;
I’m sure if you emailed him and explained who you were and why you
wanted the numbers, he would give them to you. providing there
still there. I cant think why he would’nt.
Cheers Phil.–
The original message included these comments:
In reply to a message from Phil Marsden sent Sat 12 Nov 2011:
Good news, the XK150 has been bought by an XK enthusiast and
member of the XK Club. He had originally bought it for the
chassis but has found it to be in better condition than he
thought and is now planning to restore the car. A new read
end is obviously needed, but he has most of this already.
The body number and gearbox numbers are there, he’s not been
able to find either of the chassis numbers yet but is hoping
to be able to get more information as he removes the body.
It sounds like he is in touch with David Bentley.–
Ken XK150 FHC S824252, see her on xkdata + X300 3.2 Sport
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In reply to a message from Terry McGrath sent Sat 12 Nov 2011:
A big thank you to Terry, today he identified the car. I was
able to put him in touch with the new owner who was able to
furnish the body and gearbox numbers. The car, like mine
dates from February 1958, and is just 41 cars earlier.
The new owner has previously restored a 150DHC and is
working on restoring a 140FHC as well as his new acquisition.–
The original message included these comments:
Right just looking at the pics on EBAY
it has early taillights and the heater is inside the car, the car almost
certainly had O/D originally and possibly had black upholstery as per LH
sidedash panel still with car and even this could have body number on back.
So we can assume it is one of the first 584 cars as the heater in the engine
bay was introduced at 824585.
But even more simple assuming it was an O/D car due to O/D relay still being
in housing it possibly/probably still has the original gearbox in the car
certainly the gearbox top currently fitted has an XK120-150 style gearbox
Where are denis welch motors?
regards terry