1966 Jaguar MK II

The vendor is just the third owner of this car, having known, driven and worked on the car with the previous owner, a good friend, for nearly 25 years beforehand.

Originally registered in Herefordshire, 'FVJ 595D' has spent all of her life in the West Country.

In 2013 the head gasket blew, initiating a comprehensive mechanical rebuild that extended to replacing the original auto box with a 5-speed manual unit from a late XJ6.

Coopercraft brakes (ventilated 4 pot at the front) were fitted, plus all new poly bushes in the suspension, new springs (fronts uprated), and electric power steering.

All suspension parts and the bodywork under the wings were stripped, painted and coated with Hammerite anti-rust sealer.

The engine was professionally rebuilt by Clive Bond with the work including the following.

•    9:1 pistons
•    Lightened, balanced flywheel
•    Uprated oil pump
•    Reprofiled cams
•    Ported head
•    2” SUs
•    Electronic ignition (123)
•    S/S exhaust.

The exhaust manifolds were coated to reduce under-bonnet heat and a high-density core radiator, overflow tank and electric fan fitted.

The original Borg-Warner gearbox, starter, dynamo and other parts are included if required.

A (far) more comprehensive breakdown of work carried out can be found in the ‘Mechanical’ section.

The car has been sensitively upgraded and restored to ensure that it is optimally rewarding to drive. 

The vendor tells us 'the mileage shows 10,110 miles but I believe that the speedo was changed before I acquired the car so the true mileage will be somewhere around 75,000 miles'.

However having driven it, we can vouch for its impressive mechanical and dynamic competence.

It starts on the button, pulls away with plenty of lively urge, handles and steers with poise and balance, stops on a sixpence, and generally feels properly fettled and thoroughly sorted.

The vendor has used the car regularly on local classic car runs; on holidays in England, Wales and Scotland; and on continental trips in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.  It’s even earned itself a ‘Nürburgring’ boot lid badge along the way. 
 

There are no significant dinks, dents or creases anywhere that we can see.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are probably about as crisp, consistent and even as they were when it left the factory.

The replacement S/S wire wheels are shiny, bright and free of any damage that we can see and, elsewhere, the rest of the car’s brightwork is as yet untroubled by any foxing, pitting or tarnishing.

The tyres look to have a decent amount of useful service left in them (the pair at the front are new).

In In 2008 the car was stripped and resprayed in the original Jaguar Light Blue but, interestingly, it was reported that there was evidence on the floor pan that it may initially have been sprayed Cotswold Blue in the factory. Maybe it was then resprayed in the factory for a Light Blue order. We don’t know.

Either way, the paint is in pretty decent condition and has retained a fair amount of shine and lustre.

We noticed a few paint chips and scuffs around the n/s/r wheel-arch, plus some loose rubber trim in the groove above it.

There’s a little micro-blistering above the front grille, below the window on the n/s/f door, and on the bonnet, where there are also a few tiny raised pimples and some signs of previous touch-ups along the rear edge.

Aside from those minor flaws, the exterior comes with a pretty much standard number and distribution of thin scratches, scuffs, stone chips and other negligible blemishes.

The car’s lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings all look to be in excellent order.
 

The interior has purposefully been kept as original as possible. However, new carpets and headlining were fitted by the previous owner and, in 2023, all seats were refurbished using a leather renovation kit supplied by The Furniture Clinic.

The seats, front and back, are comfortable, supportive and in very fine fettle.

The period head-rests lend an authentically 1966 ambience to the interior, but we noticed that the one on the passenger side is a little sticky to the touch.

The driver and passenger seat straps have been professionally rebuilt.

All the wood on the dashboard and door cappings has been revarnished and the wood under the rear parcel shelf replaced.

The previous owner fitted a Moto-Lita wooden steering wheel and the original steering column surround, i.e. as per the original automatic gearbox, has been retained.

New steering column bushes have been fitted and the centre tunnel and pedal box have been modified to take the gear-lever/pedals for the 5-speed manual gearbox.

As far as we’re aware, all gauges, switches, knobs and buttons do as they’re told without delay or complaint.

An uprated heater matrix is in place.

The boot is as good as the rest of it and contains some parts, books and other bits and pieces. 
 

Now then.

Pour yourself a drink, settle down into a comfy chair and cast your eyes over the following list of work carried out and jobs done.

Exterior

In the early 1980s new sills, crossmember, jacking pints and door skins were fitted and, in the mid 1980s, the car was stripped, and the panels were repaired, fitted and leaded.

All inner wings were been taken back to the original metal/underseal, any repairs made and the inner wings coated with Hammerite (oil based) and sprayed with Hammerite underbody seal. Chassis box sections, etc, were also sprayed with Dinitrol and Waxoyl.

Instruments/Electrics

Instruments are standard apart from the replacement of the ammeter with a voltmeter and the electric oil pressure gauge with a capillary/mechanical gauge for accuracy. As the system is now neg-earth the instrument voltage regulator has been changed to solid state.

•    LED instrument lights
•    Radio modified - digital FM conversion by Walmley Classic Radios
•    Clock modified - solid state/transistor - by Mark Willow (JEC member) - has retained ‘tick’ of standard unit
•    Rev counter drive gear replaced - fitted to generator on end of engine camshaft
•    Replacement ignition switch
•    Uprated headlamp bulbs

Steering/Brakes/Suspension

•    Wilkinson electric PS fitted - rack/electric/hydraulic - professionally fitted. Includes alternator 
•    All steering/suspension ball joints replaced
•    All front and rear suspension bushes replaced - poly bushes
•    Rear Panhard rod and bushes replaced
•    Stiffer front springs fitted (reduces body roll)
•    Replacement rear springs
•    Gaz adjustable shock absorbers front and rear
•    Coopercraft ventilated front disks, 4 pot front calipers, uprated rear calipers
•    Replacement brake master cylinder, Kunifer brake pipes
•    Goodridge braided flexible hoses and handbrake cable
•    Brake servo replaced by previous owner
Transmission/Axle

Originally fitted with automatic transmission (unit still available) but changed to 5-speed manual transmission from a late XJ6 (Jaguar LT77).

•    Custom made bell housing plate and chassis mount fabricated
•    Replacement clutch, clutch plate 
•    Rebuilt clutch master cyclone and new clutch slave cylinder (fitted 2024)
•    Fitted with optional 3.54:1 Limited Slip Differential (LSD) - regular LSD oil change and believe replacement drive shaft/hub bearings fitted by previous owner
•    Shortened prop-shaft and new UJ joints to fit replacement 5-speed gearbox
•    Replacement high-quality (S/S spokes) wheels fitted

Engine

•    Block checked, honed and new core plugs fitted
•    9:1 Mahle + 20” pistons fitted
•    Crankshaft and rods + 10” Duraglide bushes fitted
•    Flywheel lightened
•    Crank, rods, flywheel, clutch dynamically balanced
•    High volume oil pump and cooler
•    Replacement cylinder head supplied by Ken Jenkins (Mk2 Technical Advisor at the Jaguar Enthusiast Club) and with spark plug thread inserts
•    Head ported and middle polished - to match inlet and exhaust manifolds
•    Original camshafts mildly reprofiled (fast road) by Piper Cams 
•    Exhaust manifolds thermos-coated to reduce heat loss and lower engine compartment temp (Ex-Jaguar test driver, Norman Dewis, personally advised keeping standard manifolds over fabricated sports option)
•    S/Steel exhaust system - Bell Exhausts, Swindon
•    High-torque starter motor

Cooling

•    New water pump and thermostat fitted
•    Multi-core water radiator, electric fan and adjustable electronic fan controller (in top hose) fitted
•    Remote expansion tank
•    New hoses

Ignition

•    123 Electronic Distributer - timing set at 32deg before TDC at 3000rpm
•    Replacement leads and plug caps
•    Aluminium plug lead separator
•    N12YC Champion spark plugs
•    Sports coil
•    Alternator (as required for PS)
•    Yuasa battery - 2023

Fuel System

•    2 x HS8 SUs (2”) fully rebuilt by SU specialist David Lonsdale. Emission parts removed and after various trials BAW needles fitted 
•    Manual choke (not normally required)
•    Filter King fuel filter - adjustable for pressure and with fuel pressure gauge - 3.2lbs when running
•    Facet ‘Red Top’ fuel pump (potential higher output than original SU pump)
•    Goodridge braided fuel lines.

OK.

Ready for another drink now? 
 

As you might imagine from the exhaustive list you’ve just perused, this car comes with more history than the Ashmolean Museum.

It has just had two new front tyres fitted and tracking-checked.

The car comes with various original parts, some spares, and plenty of books, magazines and manuals.

Its MoT certificate is valid until 14.5.26.

This three-owners-from-new car has had the very good fortune to be owned by true enthusiasts with a great deal of knowledge and expertise on both the marque and the model.

The history of upgrades, repairs and maintenance carried out over the years reads like a Who’s Who of the great and the good among the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club and the best marque specialists out there.

It is a joy to behold and a delight to drive.

It’s really very good indeed. 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £18,000 - £23,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.