1963 Jaguar Mk II

A 3.4-litre fitted with a four-speed overdrive manual, the consigned gunmetal grey Mark 2 has had an eventful life. Supplied to Sagers Motors on May 22 1963, it spent time in Rhodesia (latter day Zimbabwe) before returning to the UK in the late Seventies. Complete with a nearly complete service history – including every petrol, oil and maintenance purchase between 1965 and 1973, its original guarantee, and owners’ manual, it’s been in the care of its current custodian for 13 years, who, in the Noughties, kept and drove the car around The Netherlands. He only added to the paperwork, adding a desirable set of wire wheels, retrimming the interior, and fitting a modern head unit. He’s only parting with the Mark 2 because he feels it doesn’t get used enough. A stack of old tax discs and MoT certificates also come with the car, which wore the registration mark ‘3731 DH’ until the early 2000s.

An older restoration, this Jaguar has always been the gunmetal (metallic) grey specified in its documents. It received a repaint in 1984 from Southern Classics, which also fitted a new offside door skin, as well as repairing the offside front and rear doors, front wings and centre pillar.

The brightwork and Mazak fittings on the car present nicely; stainless steel rear overseers were installed to the original bumpers during the current owner’s tenure, as well as new radial tyres (alas, the supporting paperwork is unavailable). The car had steels from new; wires were a desirable option, and they were fitted (plus the necessary hubs and replacement bearings) by Dutch Aston and Jaguar specialist, Hovri Tynaarlo, in 2007. A previous owner fitted uprated Coopercraft front brake calipers.

The only thing that really detracts from the car’s appearance is a loose nearside rear wing spat edge; clipped back on, or repaired, it would further boost the car’s visual appeal.

The main job of a Jaguar is to cosset its occupants – and this car presents well. The vendor reports that everything works, and that a full carpet set and retrim was ordered and fitted during his ownership. Sadly, he’s mislaid the receipts, but the work is pretty evident, from nicely mellowed hide to the sound looking timber on the dashboard and controls.

A new windscreen was fitted in 1999, to which the owner has added heating elements for quick getaways on colder mornings. Six years earlier, Graham A Whitby fitted a hazard light warning kit for a bit of extra reassurance, the head unit that was also fitted that year was replaced with a modern equivalent by the current custodian; again, there’s no paperwork.

Under the bonnet, the 3.4-litre XK engine looks well. The unit was reconditioned in 1983, and fitted with a new head; it received a new started motor in 2003, and was thoroughly serviced and tuned by 2007 when it lived in the Netherlands, where a new clutch, pressure plate, radiator hoses and distributor cap went in. A new Yuasa battery was supplied by Shield Batteries the same year.

In the boot, everything’s where it should be, including a factory tool set in varying states of condition; there’s also a host of spares for the next owner. Should they want to return the car to original specification, the original head is included, its waterways having been welded since being supplanted in 1983. There’s also the original rear over-rider (it rusted through and was replaced but is still there) and the can shaped OEM air box, too – the current owner fitted pancake style filters to the twin SUs to improve air flow and appearance.

Having been thoroughly undersealed during a 1999 body repair, the underside of this Mark 2 appears to be holding up well – a relief given how complex the body shell is.

There’s some surface rust on what appears to be the near side front outrigger and nearside chassis leg, but this would soon be arrested with a rubdown and a tin of Waxoyl, Dinitrol or POR-15 (other underbody treatments are available). The twin downpipes and back boxes of the exhausts look well, as does the spare wheel tray; there are no leaks from the gearbox (stripped and rebuilt in 1983 by BV Auto Transmissions, alongside an overdrive repaired in 1987). It looks like a similar story with the suspension, diff and rear axle; some gentle flap wheel work on the discoloured areas would work wonders and keep the car protected for another few years. The repaired nearside and offside sill repairs, performed by PAS Autoservices in 2006, still seem solid.

Engine reconditioning – Graham A Whitby – 1/2/1983

Repaint and O/S door skin replacement – Southern Classics – 16/3/1984

New starter motor – Withair Aviation Services – 01/10/2003

Clutch and pressure plate, hoses and extensive service – Hovri Tynaarlo – 27/4/2007

Steel wheels replaced with wires, hubs and bearings replaced – Hovri Tynaarlo – 26/6/2007

As 3.8-litre Mark 2s soar in value, the 3.4s remain affordable with little of the outright performance penalty in buying a 2.4-litre (or 240) just to get the Mark 2 shape on your drive. A near 40-year-old restoration is holding up very well, testament to careful storage; with its rebuilt manual gearbox and engine, a keen driver could make the most of the performance on a twisting road; only on the straights would a well-driven 3.8 pull away from it. Maintained and thoroughly doted on throughout its life (with reams of hard copy to prove it), this car would need very little to make it stunning. Fit a set of black and white (or age-appropriate reflective) plates, enjoy the pre-1966 parking at the Goodwood Revival, or go for a long summer drive.

Our estimate for this car is £20,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.