Subscribe to our email newsletter
Vehicle History
Overall condition: Excellent
Restored?: Yes
History: Part service & maintenance history
MOT: Now exempt
Built between 1959 and 1967, the Jaguar Mark 2 offered consumers a superb balance of luxury, comfort, and impressive performance. The Mark 2 quickly earned a reputation for its performance, even serving as a trusty motorway patrol car for the police force. In this 3.8L guise, the MK2 would also go on to see considerable motorsport success, with notable victories in both the European and Australian touring car championships.
Just shy of 84 thousand units were said to have been produced, with the 3.8L model accounting for the majority of the production run. Although the MK2 3.8L proved to be quite a commercial success, a great deal of these classic Jags have indeed fallen to age, with many now lost forever.
This particular example, however, is one of the shining survivors, expertly restored and incredibly well cared for over the years. The car now presents a fantastic opportunity to secure a very rare example of some of Jaguar’s most historically significant work, be that as a stunning collection piece or special occasion vehicle.
Exterior
- Previously restored between 2004 and 2008
- Resprayed Claret exterior
- Re-plated chrome trim components
- Correct 15” wire spoke wheels with Jaguar spinners
- Superb overall condition
The MK2 is without a doubt one of the more handsomely styled cars of the ‘60s, proudly setting the bar for sporty saloons. Rather obviously sharing styling similarities with the earlier MK1, this Jaguar screams classic performance, with its streamlined lines from the front wings, all the way to the muscular rear end.
Having been thoroughly restored between 2004 and 2008, this Jag now shows off a gorgeous Claret exterior. The paintwork has quite clearly been expertly applied, with every nook and cranny of the car receiving a high-quality coat. As the paint was applied to a fully stripped-down car, examples of the superb finish can be found wherever the eye can see, even under the carpeting in the boot.
With the vehicle covering so few miles since being restored, the paintwork is still in superb condition. Upon incredibly close inspection, you may notice minute imperfections, but hardly anything that detracts from the overall finish of this gorgeous Claret MK2.
As part of the restoration, all chrome details received their share of love, with over £1500 spent on re-plating. As a result, all chrome and paintwork looks fantastic, now offering a tremendous amount of shine. The only known imperfection can be found on the boot handle, although this is yet another incredibly minor, difficult-to-notice defect.
Badging, lights, and trim pieces around the vehicle also present themselves very well, likely benefitting from re-plating and replacement components following the restoration. The front end sports a series of historic badges, including that of the renowned Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club. These add a tasteful amount of character to the restored exterior and should be further preserved with the rest of the finish.
The car sits on a stylish set of period-correct 15” wire spoke wheels, which perfectly suit the classy, sporty nature of this MK2. Albeit a bit of a challenge to clean no doubt, the wheels are in superb condition with no noticeable faults. As an added bonus, the wheels sport the correct Jaguar spinners, and a matching set of Dunlop SP Sport tyres, with plenty of tread left to enjoy.
Watch a video of the 1961 Jaguar Mk II
Mechanics
- 3.8L straight-six
- Manual transmission with overdrive
- Rebuilt engine in 2006
- Dozens of new/refurbished parts
- Runs and drives without fault
The 3.8L is easily the more impressive model from the MK2 lineup, packing around 220 bhp, which certainly was impressive for its time. The MK2 was also capable of a 0-60 time of around 8.5 seconds, which will still embarrass a large portion of traffic on the road today. Very few 60+-year-old vehicles stand up to the test of time in the same way, which is a true testament to Jaguar’s engineering of the time.
This particular example benefits from a great deal of maintenance over the years, along with a host of new/refurbished parts as part of its restoration. Although carefully outlined in the generous amount of included paperwork, key items to note are as follows:
2021
- Service and new filters
- Waxoil treatment to the underside of the vehicle
- Oil leak repairs
- Front seat belt installation
- Door lock adjustment
- Scorpion tracker device fitted
2006
- Rebored block
- New cylinder liners
- New pistons
- Polished crank
- Skimmed flywheel
- Recut valve seats
- Skimmed cylinder head
- New HT leads
- New head studs
- New clutch
- New ring gear
- New crank seal
- New distributor
- New bearings
- New thrust washers
- New gaskets
- New timing chain
- New cam bearings
- New chain tensioner
- New oil pump
- New pistons
- New crankshaft pulley
- Crankshaft spacer
- Sports ignition coil
- New spark plugs
- New thermostat
- New rotor arm
- New hardware
- Gearbox bearings
2007
- Davies Craig DCSL14 fan kit
- New wiring harness
There are of course additional instances detailed in the included paperwork, along with the expected consumables and regular servicing over the years. As is rather evident from the extensive list above and the sheer amount of included paperwork, this Jaguar has had no expense spared over the years. As a result, the vehicle performs without a single known fault, happily firing up and reminding the driver of just how impressive this platform truly is.
Interior
- Maroon upholstery
- Wooden trim pieces
- Correct 2-spoke steering wheel
- Partly re-trimmed in 2008
- HMV 500T radio
- Fantastic condition
- Fitted with front seatbelts
As if the gorgeous Claret exterior wasn’t impressive enough, this Jaguar also shows off a superbly re-trimmed Maroon interior. The partial re-trim was carried out at the cost of £3366 and leaves this MK2 with a near-faultless cabin, packed with gorgeous classic styling.
In keeping with the overall condition of the vehicle and the low mileage covered, it should come as no surprise that the seats are in near-perfect condition. Upon incredibly close scrutiny, the driver’s seat shows minor imperfections to the outer edge of the leather, but you are very unlikely to notice this. The passenger seats, on the other hand, look pristine and could fool you for being brand new.
The gorgeous Maroon interior is further enhanced by classy wooden trim inserts and the sleek wooden dash. Unlike many other examples of the same age, the wood has seemingly been preserved beautifully and is a real treat to look at. Also complementing the interior is the correct style 2-spoke steering wheel. This wheel was installed in 2020, and proved to be somewhat of a rare item to obtain in today’s market.
The cabin also boasts a HMV 500T radio, which offers a period-correct face to suit the classy interior. The radio, however, hides internals capable of Bluetooth pairing for a very welcome modern touch. Along the lines of electrical interior features, all instruments and controls are in full working order, with no visible signs of wear to the contact points.
Carpeting throughout the interior is in excellent condition, with no visible signs of wear or damage. The headliner follows suit, offering a touch of brightness to the otherwise Maroon interior. In the boot, you’ll find more clean carpeting, along with a matching spare wheel and the toolkit.
Car Summary
- Previously restored
- Fantastic condition
- Plenty of included history
- Rare historic vehicle
- Ideal collection/show vehicle
Vehicle Specification
- 5,560 (since restoration)
- Manual with overdrive
- RHD
- 3.8L
- Petrol
- Claret
- Maroon
- 203040 DN
Seller Overview
Location
- Barnard Castle, Durham
Seller Type
- Private
Notice to bidders
Please note whilst Bidding Classics offer the most descriptive auction listings and in-depth photos and videos, we cannot claim they are totally accurate reflections of the condition of each vehicle listed for sale. Therefore, we encourage all bidders to do their own due diligence and arrange a viewing of each vehicle for sale. Viewings can be arranged by posting in the comments section below, this will trigger an email to the seller, who will get in contact to arrange a time of mutual convenience.
Also, it is likely that many of the classic cars sold through our platform will have had repair work in the past that we cannot verify. As such we do not warrant (and no warranty shall be implied) that the repairs have been carried out to a high standard or that any replacement parts are genuine.
Please do ask any questions by filling in the ‘Ask a question’ form and one of our team will be in touch, or visit our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section if you have questions about the buying process. If you require any additional photos or videos let the seller know, and we’ll ensure they are captured and sent over as soon as possible.
Ask a question
Exterior
Interior
Mechanical
Documents
Sign Up to Our Weekly Auction Updates
By signing up, you agree to Bidding Classics Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
for Appreciating Classic Cars
© 2024 Bidding Classics. All Rights Reserved.