Jaguar XK150 Motto

The 1958 Jaguar XK150 Coupé Motto was a coachbuilt special produced by Carrozzeria Motto in Italy. Two examples were built at the same time. One was made for racing driver Clemente Biondetti, while the second was built for a Swiss client who owned a large salami factory. The two cars were not identical and had slightly different front grilles, which helps explain the differences seen in surviving period references. The car was based on the Jaguar XK150, the final development of Jaguar’s original XK line. Introduced in the late 1950s, the XK150 offered more comfort, better braking, and a more refined structure than the XK120 and XK140. For the Motto-bodied version, the standard Jaguar platform was reworked with a bespoke coupé body, shaped with the Italian coachbuilder’s focus on clean surfaces, balanced proportions, and lightweight construction. Unlike the standard XK150, the Motto coupé carried a more individual design. Its bodywork featured smoother, lower, and more flowing lines, with a cabin and roof profile adapted to the client’s requirements. The front grille treatment differed between the two known cars, confirming that each example was finished as an individual commission rather than as a fixed production model. Mechanically, the car retained Jaguar XK150 engineering. It used Jaguar’s inline six-cylinder engine, not a V12, paired with the XK chassis layout. The XK150 was equipped with independent front suspension and a live rear axle, giving it the strong performance and long-distance capability for which the model was known. Disc brakes, introduced on the XK150, also contributed to its improved driving character. Production was extremely limited, with only two Motto-bodied XK150 coupés currently confirmed by direct testimony. Their construction reflects the postwar tradition of special-bodied European grand touring cars, when wealthy private clients and racing drivers could commission Italian coachbuilders to reinterpret established British mechanical platforms. The Jaguar XK150 Coupé Motto is therefore an important coachbuilt special. It connects Jaguar engineering with Italian body design and helps document the role of Carrozzeria Motto in producing unique, client-specific automobiles during the late 1950s.