There is an XK150S on ebay with two number stampings on the engine head.

VS1010-9 and below that:
SSM 4781

Ive never seen this on any other vintage XK. The Ebay Item number: 390382086843 - it ends in a day, but Im sure can be viewed in the completed listings for a few weeks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3903820868...

Maybe there is a good explanation? I just found it strange ...
thank you!

greg

Submitted by greg@nofatmusic.com on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 23:59

Hi Steve:
The car was restored completely, which im told took the usual "two weeks" (about 4 years!) - my sense is the owner lost interest in that time, had the work completed, and then never drove the car. The top(head) had never been raised. The windows never rolled up. Everything was perfect, except ... sludge in the carbs, lots of hardened rubber bushings and grommets, squeaky brakes, detached overdrive. On the plus side, the transmission, diff, and engine were very well built and solid - interior of highest quality (Connelly leather, Wilton carpets, etc, etc)
It was unregistered when I bought it - made me a bit nervous, but all checked out - numbers are all correct -- and the head was painted an antique gold color NOT the pumpkin. Its an interesting thing the different opinions about the 150S head color. Ive got an original build sheets showing color charts that only reference gold. Other experts in England that "know for sure" only the very early 150S were painted pumpkin, and others that say anything BUT pumpkin is incorrect. My 150S was painted 'antique gold' per an original color chart I was given with the car. But who knows for sure?! The Porter book seems to imply all Pumpkin all the time - except for XK150s 3.8 engines. Then its gold only!

To add to that, at the last Jag show I attended in the Fall, an elegant low mileage original 61 E type was in attendance - a real driver, with nothing new about it - and it had most of its paint still in place on the head - and it was the famous Pumpkin color! Owner said it was absolutely original - he had owned it since new, and never restored it. So it seems early E types had the pumpkin painted heads - although everyone says 3.8 engines are 'always' gold, not pumpkin.

In addition I bought my 4.2 1966 E type roadster from the original owner, and its head is (back to) gold! So the dance between these head colors seems prolific! I would love to hear what youve researched.... Im sure others might weigh in (Again) It would be fun to put a picture gallery of just 150S head colours. Ive plenty of pics to add if you want to start one!

Its all good of course. Im not trying to stir up any XK colour animosity! If it doesnt leak too much oil, and it makes a great sound and gets you there and back, then we are all way ahead of the game. They are all such beautiful cars, no matter what the head colour!
Kind regards
greg

Submitted by greg@nofatmusic.com on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 10:17

Likewise, I am finishing up a pristine XK150S that sat after ground up restoration unused for 15 years in a collection. I have - with the help of George and others - amassed lots of info. - it appears this Ebay 150S also has a much later boot 'strut' found on the very late models of the XK150 (and later model saloons), but does not have the larger tail also found on later model 150s.
Also the doors seem to hang in a less than perfect way, with larger than normal, uneven gaps. Typical of well used cars, not what you'd expect of a "low mileage from new, 13,000 mile" example. Any investment like this should inspire a close inspection.
Thank you again George for your expertise.
Kind regards
greg arnold NYC

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 07:04

I would also add to anyone interested in this car that all of the serial numbers are from what seem to be an earlier time than 1959. Having restored 3 150"S" roadsters (2 1958s) and a 1959 the numbers for the engine are 340 to 900 later than the pictured number. My guess is that this car is an early 1958 and a check of the certificate would be in order.