1965 Jaguar Mk2 3.8

From new, this MKII Jaguar was exported to the dry lands of Australia, which has no doubt helped preserve the vehicle’s condition over the years. Originally built with a smaller-displacement engine, it would appear that the 3.8-litre conversion was carried out during its time ‘down under’ and there is documentation to support the fact it has had an engine rebuilt and major restoration around the turn of the century.

Imported back to the UK in 2016 by a Harrogate-based dealership and subsequently purchased by our vendor in 2017, this (now 3.8-litre) MK2 Jaguar with four-speed O/D gearbox has been cherished since, and the vendor has improved the car’s mechanicals, with the following works carried out:

• Zeus 4-pot brake callipers on the front axle, with flexible brake hoses
• New anti-roll bar bushes
• New ‘Panhard’ rod bushes
• New fan belt
• New horns
• New radiator hoses
• New engine and gearbox mounts
• New oil pressure transducer
• Oil and filter service

For the first few years of ownership, this MK2 was used sparingly as a ‘weekend toy’ and attended a number of shows whilst being methodically worked-through and fettled by the current owner. Sadly, since the start of the pandemic, the car has been parked up in the vendor’s garage and not used, with the current odometer reading showing just over 37,000 miles, though we’re unable to verify if this has ‘rolled over’ or is from new.

Resplendent in Regency Red, this MK2 still cuts an impressive figure over 50 years after it rolled off the production line, and it’s not hard to see why these saloons were the byword in performance luxury motoring at the time.

The paintwork is, on the whole, in good condition throughout, with minimal heavy wear or unsightly marks. There are a couple of larger imperfections (all of which have been detailed in the gallery below) and some more noticeable stone chips, but no scuffs or impact damage that we could see.

Looking closely, there are also some areas of ‘pin’ bubbles or paint reaction, on the roof and bonnet most noticeably.

We did however, note a few patches of bubbling under the paintwork, most prominently on the offside rear arch, bonnet upper edge, nearside rear door and nearside front door below the trim line.

Being super picky, we’d also suggest the driver’s door hinges require some adjustment, and we noticed that the front passenger door catch sometimes fails to engage, though this could simply be due to lack of use in recent years.

Elsewhere, the chrome trims and details are all present-and-correct and remain in excellent condition throughout, as do the wire wheels which are largely devoid of the usual corrosion and dirt build-up that often plagues cars of this era.

Inside, the tan leather interior of this regal ‘big cat’ remains in great shape, and still presents wonderfully to this day.

The seats themselves are devoid of any heavy wear, damage or rips, and there is only a delightful usage patina to attest to their years of use and enjoyment, along with the odd scuff or imperfection here-and-there. In the rear, the fold-down armrest is in good order, and the flip-down tables on the rear of the front seats open and close easily.

Up above, the headliner is taut throughout and shows no signs of any damage, staining or sagging, whilst the various light fixtures and trims are all present and correct.

Ahead of the occupants, the dashboard - with its expanse of wooden inlays and dials - is in lovely condition with no cracking to the surface, nor any heavy wear, lacquer peel or cracks visible in the wood.

Being very picky, the wood-rimmed Moto Lita steering wheel would benefit from refurbishment or replacement, though it remains perfectly useable as it sits. The carpets and over-mats are also one of the few signs of wear-and-tear within the vehicle, as are the front seatbelts which look to be original.

All of the gauges are in full working order, and we noticed no electrical issues during our time with the vehicle.

Starting with ease at the push of a button, the 3.8-litre engine at the heart of this MK2 Jaguar appears to be in rude health, showing strong oil pressure and performing well. Despite the addition of an electronic choke (below the driver’s dashboard, with a tag attached) we had to give manual ‘assistance’ to the engine when cold idling in the form of some gentle constant accelerator usage, though once warm the car idled happily off-choke.

Out on the road, the steering feels satisfyingly heavy (no power-assistance here) and the gearbox was reassuring within its actions, though perhaps the bushings or cables could be renewed for an extra-tight shift action.

We did note that the clutch was somewhat vague in its action, though this could be due to being laid-up for a long period of time. That said, it never slipped or showed any indication of struggling during our test drive, so we’d suggest any issues lie in the action, rather than in the clutch itself.

Looking around the engine bay, the XK6 engine presents well with no obvious faults or issues, and no reported problems from the vendor.

Underneath, the chassis is in good shape, with only some typical cracked paintwork and ‘bloom’ to report.

Despite being exempt from mandatory MoT testing on account of its age, the vendor tested the car on 20 June 2022, and it unfortunately failed on the following items, though none are particularly difficult to rectify:

• Inrvoice brake efficiency below requirements (rear)
• Parking brake efficiency below requirements (rear)

The vendor also comments that "the car is supplied with a full original tool kit, which are allegedly worth £300 - £500 I think".

Included with the vehicle is the V5 registered keepers document showing just one former UK keeper (the aforementioned importing garage) a number of invoices for miscellaneous parts, upgrades and fixtures worked through by the current owner, correspondence for registering the vehicle in the UK, import documentation and older history from the car’s time ‘down under’ including reference to restoration and mechanical overhauls.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation that we’ve seen, and this is included in the gallery below.

Ever the quintessential ‘brute in a suit’ for the discerning motorist in the 1960s, these MK2 saloons still cultivate a certain respect and admiration to this day, and arguably the best of these examples is exactly what we have here - a 3.8-litre model, with the manual gearbox and over-drive.

In need of only some light fettling to the rear braking system and then ready to use and enjoy, this 1965 MK2 Jaguar still holds potential for the next owner to further improve it and make their own ‘mark’ on the vehicle, yet will still hold its own as it sits at any provincial car show or club meeting.

Offered for sale with an estimate of £16,000 to £23,000, we have a soft spot for these ‘big cats’ here at The Market, and have no doubt this one will prove popular.

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’.