1966 Jaguar MK2 3.8 O/D

Not only is this vehicle in truly glorious condition, it comes to us with an absolutely gold-plated, blue-riband validation of that condition and an ownership provenance that puts it in the Who’s Who of MK2s.

The car has had just three owners from new until this year, when it was bought by the current vendor, who is very well known to us.

The first owner bought the car new in 1966, when it was powered by a 3.4-litre engine, and owned it for the best part of 26 years. The next owner kept the car for over 24 years and, in 2009, spent in excess of £21,000 on a high-quality restoration of what was still a very sound car.

At this time, a replacement 3.8-litre engine was fitted and the car was partially repainted.

The car was next purchased in Sept 2016 by the penultimate owner, none other than the former founder and Chief Executive of Jaguar Land Rover's Heritage (now ‘Classic’) business.

The car was handed over to his team at the Browns Lane workshop for a

comprehensive chassis and drivetrain overhaul to original factory standards, a project which set in motion the following three-step process:

• an exhaustive 121-point analysis of the mechanical and cosmetic condition of the car, followed by;

• a detailed programme of work that included new brakes, suspension bushes, tyres, overdrive, prop-shaft, differential seals, fuel pump, radiator, heater matrix, speedometer and inertia-reel seat belts, at a cost of £11,000

• and, finally, a very comprehensive 121-point ‘Vehicle Health Check’ by Jaguar Classic which is included within the car’s extensive history file and is the first ‘stamp’ in the car’s ‘Classic’ service book.

This work concluded in October 2017, since when the car has covered fewer than 50 miles.

Of historical importance, ‘TAR 272D’ was the last customer car to enter Jaguar Land Rover Heritage’s ‘Browns Lane’ facility and the first customer car to enter the Jaguar Classic workshop that replaced it.

‘TAR 262D’ featured in the publicity material for the official opening of Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works at Oxford Road, Coventry, on 14th June, 2017.

It was shown alongside the first completed Range Rover Reborn to illustrate the breadth of activities planned for the new facility.

It subsequently returned to Classic Works for some minor upgrades and was photographed in the illustrious company of XKSS ‘continuations’ completing build and X220s being serviced.

Indigo blue with grey leather upholstery, this car seems to gleam with pride in its own appearance.

It is a joy to behold from any angle and a fitting testament to the skills of the people who built, maintained and restored it.

We have driven the car and can report that it starts on the button, drives strongly in all gears (including overdrive) and steers, handles and stops precisely as you would hope it might.

The only sighs, groans, whistles or claps we heard were from pedestrians we left swooning in our wake as we drove past in a shiny blue blur of purring automotive nostalgia.

Everything about this car feels solid and properly screwed together.

No, it’s not perfect. Nothing is.

But it’s in exceptional condition, it has an itemised seal of approval from Jaguar Classic, and it has clearly only ever been owned and maintained by people who had passion and expertise in equal (and copious) measure.

Looking at it outside, inside or underneath, it’s hard to believe that this car was born in the year that Nancy Sinatra first sang about her boots, Time magazine coined the phrase ‘Swinging London’, and Raquel Welch starred in One Million Years B.C. wearing a bikini that appeared to be fashioned from two, three at most, squirrels.

It’s really very good indeed.

It’s a fabulously handsome car, there’s no mistaking that.

The panels are largely free of any dents, dinks, warps or bends, and the door gaps and shut lines all seem fine.

The chrome work (which was refurbished and re-chromed in 2009), badging and trim are all bright and shiny.

The wire wheels and their Jaguar spinners are in top condition. The tyres have plenty of life left in them.

The resprayed paintwork has held up very well, and although there are one or two stone chips here and there, it’s in far finer fettle than most 13 year-old paint jobs could hope to emulate.

There is no rust or blistering anywhere, save for a very localized spot of bubbling at the rear of the n/s/f sill.

We think the n/s/r wheel arch ‘spat’ may need to be very gently eased outwards – our theory being that it’s occasionally touching the tyre under cornering.

We’ve also found that the passenger door opening/closing mechanism may need some fettling (the vendor may address this shortly) as it can be slightly stubborn on occasion.

The interior is a wonderfully authentic place to be and is instantly and powerfully evocative of the car’s era.

Very few manufacturers do the wood and leather thing better than Jaguar and this car is a fine showcase for the skills of the French polishers and saddlers who built it.

The front seats are in good condition and carry only the lightest of creasing. They are comfortable, supportive and functional.

The fabric at the n/s base of the driver’s seat has come a little unstuck and just needs reacquainting with the leather base.

The rear bench seat, too, appears untroubled by either use or time.

Ditto the roof lining, carpets, mats and door cards – all of which are in commendably good nick. The lining inside the driver’s door storage compartment has come loose at the top.

The wood veneers on the dashboard and door cappings are rich and glossy. There is one small nick to the veneer just by the glove compartment and, although it looks smooth and shiny, the wood at the top of the dashboard beneath the windscreen feels slightly gritty to the touch.

As far as we are aware, all buttons, knobs, switches, dials and levers do what they’re supposed to do.

The gear leaver gaiter is a bit worn and baggy.

The interior lights work and all fixtures, fitting and trim is bright and shiny.

The boot is cavernous and pretty much pristine, with a spare wheel, tool kit, jack and hammer.

Lifting up the carpets here or anywhere else on this car reveals - nothing to worry about whatsoever.

The undersides to this car look like those you’d expect to find on a car that’s been checked and assessed 242 times in total by Jaguar Classic.

In other words, solid, sound, honest and devoid of anything to prompt a tut or raise an eyebrow.

The engine bay is clean, dry, and everything on and around the 3.8-litre XK engine appears to be in its right and proper place.

The current vendor brought the car to us fresh from receiving £900 worth of detailing from Auto Wax Works (Bicester Heritage). He has also had the fuel tank sender replaced.

The car comes with all manner of bills, invoices and old MoTs. It also comes with an original MK2 3.8-litre handbook and, vitally, Jaguar Classic’s 121-point assessment and their follow-up 121-point ‘Health Check’, both of which are meticulous and comprehensive in their thoroughness and attention to detail.

The car 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 the car re-MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT certificate is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, 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.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

The car’s odometer currently reads around 8,140 miles, reflecting the fact that the 3.8-litre engine was fitted in 2009. That said, the mileage doesn’t seem out of place for the vehicle as a whole, given its excellent condition.

Aside from the 3.8-litre engine and a Kenlowe cooling fan, pretty much everything on it is authentic, original and as it would have been when it left the factory in 1966.

All in all, we think that this MK2 is a beautiful and properly fettled example of both the marque and the model.

Best of all, you don’t just have to take our word for it.

It’s been sanctioned, validated, stamped, approved, appraised, certified and had 242 of its boxes ticked by no less an authority than Jaguar Classic.

Frankly, we don’t think recommendations come with much more kudos or authority than that.

What’s not to like?

We’re happy to offer this vehicle for auction with no reserve and an estimate in the range of £40,000 - £50,000.

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’.