1962 Jaguar MK 2

Built in June 1962 and despatched from Henlys London to Melbourne Australia just one month later, ‘2411 WK’ is blue Jaguar MKII fitted with the 3.8-litre engine, an automatic gearbox and a dark blue leather interior.

With just one previous UK keeper – who had the car from 2013 until the seller bought it in June last year – it is a ‘matching numbers’ example as confirmed by the Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate in the history file.

It was also reissued with its original UK registration number when it returned to these shores a decade ago, which is a nice touch. It’s also been accepted and recorded on the International Jaguar E Type Register.

Having seen little use in the past 12 months or so, the seller organised a minor recommissioning in August this year to bring it up to spec.

It still needs a little TLC but that’s reflected in the guide price – and the fact it’s being offered with no reserve and will sell as soon as the first bid is placed!

The blue coachwork looks terrific as you walk up to it. Still finished in the same hue it left the factory wearing, it makes a refreshing change from the more usual colours we’ve become used to seeing.

Panel fit is decent, and while there is room for improvement it’s easily good enough to be used as it is; only those with an eye for the show ring will want to massage some of them, like the boot lid, into better alignment.

The paintwork is also good. It’s not perfect but it is very presentable and you could easily live with if your interests lie in driving your new Jag rather than showing it – and that’s not to damn with faint praise; we appeal to a broad church and want to be sure it’s going to meet your needs before you bid as we know many of you rely on our photos and descriptions to guide you rather than viewing in person.

The chromework is pitted and scratched and we can see the new owner will probably want to sort that out, with the front and rear bumpers bearing the brunt of the patination.

The wire wheels are painted rather than chromed, which is reassuring. They’re in a decent condition, as are the tyres. The rubber is a mixed bunch of Austone and Hankooks but they do have good tread.

As for work to do, the paintwork does have a few flaws around a few areas including the scuttle-mounted air vent, the fuel filler cap, and the window apertures.

There are also a few bubbles on the wheelarches and there is some light surface rust around the rim of the boot lid.

Again, the interior’s dark blue colour makes a welcome change from the more usual black or red. Lightly creased, it’s settled into late middle age better than most of us in the office.

The seats, for example, are still comfortable and free of the sort of cracking we sometimes see in cars from warmer climates; while the sun and warm winters might help preserve the bodywork it can play havoc with leather if it’s not looked after.

Luckily, these look fine but given the armrest in the back is considerably more cracked than anywhere else, we suspect the seats have been refurbished or restored at some point.

Of course, after admiring the leather seats most people notice the extensive wooden trim next and that fitted to this Jaguar is very good. Free of cracks, large chips and lacquer loss, it’s a credit to those who’ve looked after it over the years.

The instruments and switches that sit within the woodwork are in fine fettle too, with the only obvious wear being to the black bezels on the speedometer and rev counter.

The steering wheel and dashboard are both lightly worn but no more and the dark headlining is excellent. Free of rips, tears and other damage, it’s nice and taut, too so that’s another thing you don’t have to worry about.

The boot contains a spare tyre and wire wheel (not connected…) plus the air cleaner housing. The inner wheelarches and boot floor all look solid, which is comforting.

A modern Bluetooth-enabled headunit has been fitted alongside blue seatbelts in the front. The latter might not be to everyone’s taste and if they’re not they should be easy enough to change - and given the rear belts are past their best, you might want to change them while you’ve got the spanners out.

The wooden picnic trays fitted to the back of the front seats have had their latching mechanism modified with a couple of aftermarket hooks. This is a solution that’s more effective than it is elegant, so you may want to turn your attention there after you’ve sorted the front door cards.

The rest is a matter of feeding and cleaning and minor titivation. It’s a good interior but would benefit from some TLC here and there to enable it to flourish.

A recent period of inactivity led to him having his favourite garage go through the Jaguar to make sure it’s right before putting into auction.

You can see the invoice from PM Classis Cars online but the work comprised freeing off and refurbishing the braking system, checking the fuel system for leaks, sorting out an oil leak, and replacing the front sub-frame mountings.

The choke was also fettled, the compression across all cylinders was checked (and found to be “all good”) and the engine was given a quick tune-up.

The video doesn’t show the Jaguar running but the seller assures it is “running fine” and that he used it all last summer.

The engine bay (complete with a Ferrari battery!) is pretty good. Those who enjoy a session with the detailing spray and a box of microfibre towels will find plenty to keep them occupied but – again – if you’re more interested in using the car than cleaning it, there’s nothing there that would offend most people.

The underside looks solid and well protected but there are a few areas where some light surface corrosion has broken out, so you’re going to want to deal with that before it takes a hold.

NB: The nearside rear wheel is significantly closer to the inside of the wheel arch than the offside wheel. This will need further investigation.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the Jaguar comes with a Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace Certificate. Number 32208, it confirms the Jaguar’s colour and trim as still being the same as when it left the factory with other important details like the engine, gearbox, body, and chassis numbers being listed, too.

It also comes with a handwritten page of tips on using and enjoying it plus a workshop manual and a couple of dozen receipts and invoices spanning the last ten years as well as the importation paperwork.

The Jaguar doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The Jaguar MKII is a classic and never more so than when fitted with the top-of-the-range 3.8-litre engine. Throw in blue paintwork, wire wheels, a good interior and some recent recommissioning, and you’re looking at the quintessential English sporting saloon.

We’re big fans of them here in the office and having run a few can confirm they’re every bit as much of a hooligan’s car as you’d hope and this, allied to the public’s fondness for them, means that running one can be an absolute joy as other drivers will be falling over themselves to let you out of junctions and giving you cheery waves as you pass.

But, enough waffling: How much is it going to cost you to make it yours? Well, we think it’ll settle somewhere between £15,000 and £25,000, which is good value when you consider how popular it’s likely to be when the time comes to let it go.

Even better, it’s being offered with no reserve and will sell from the very first bid no matter how derisory that is.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.