Made famous traversing the streets of Oxford in the care of Inspector Morse, the Mk2 Jaguar is the quintessential British sports saloon from the 1960s. With its sporting ability, great drivetrains and slightly caddish image – it was a favourite amongst bank robbers and getaway drivers of the era – it remains a stalwart of the classic car scene. It's easy to see why too, as well as its handsome styling and charismatic engines, there is a thriving enthusiast scene, ensuring advice and parts are readily available.
This 1964 model benefits from a classic British Racing Green finish over cream leather interior. It's a great combination and this car is also highly original, coming with an extensive history file after having been significantly restored during the current keeper's ownership.
• First registered in January 1964 • Was left in a barn from 1994 to 2009 • Bought by the current owner in June 2009 • Comprehensively restored over the next few years • Resprayed in 2013/14 • Car has been dry-stored • Comes with a car cover • Includes the correct V5 • Comes with a large history file • Includes the original Jaguar handbook
• Seats and door cards retrimmed in cream leather • Wooden veneer recently refreshed on dashboard • New green carpets throughout
Sliding into the driver's seat, the first thing you notice is the lovely wood veneer dash, which is period perfect and in very good condition. The leather seats and internal trim pieces are all in fine condition, with only a handful of minor blemishes.
It's to the owner's credit that they've clearly worked hard to keep the car as original as possible, with the switchgear and instruments bearing a lovely level of patination and even installing a period-correct LW/MW radio. The only elements of the dashboard that the new owner will want to have addressed are the fuel gauge and the clock, which currently do not function. The front passenger side door rubber also looks as if it needs re-seating, but this is a relatively minor job.
Overall, the interior is a lovely place to be and has been kept in very good, original condition. It should be noted that this is a usable classic car, not a trailer queen, so there are some scuffs to the sill protectors and other minor blemishes. But to our eyes, this just adds to the character of the vehicle.
• Gorgeous chrome wire wheels • Full respray in 2013/14 • Desirable British Racing Green paintwork • Underside treated with corrosion protection
Riding on those lovely chrome wire wheels, shod in good quality Vredestein rubber, this Mk2 looks every inch the muscular sports saloon. British Racing Green has always worked well on these cars, and it's no exception here. Contrasting well with the brightwork, we think it's the perfect specification for a Mk2 Jaguar.
Clearly, extensive work has been carried out on the bodyshell during the current keeper's ownership. Having rescued the car from languishing in a barn, it has been painstakingly restored to make it as solid as possible. The underside has been treated with corrosion protection and this shows, as it looks very solid and straight underneath. The external trim, glass, lights and badging is all in very good condition, with only a little pitting on the brightwork (especially the door handles) giving away the car's age. For a 58 year old car, it's in very good fettle.
There are one or two issues that should be noted: the respray that was carried out could have been better, and there is some light bubbling in a couple of areas. There is a very small amount of surface corrosion appearing on the lip of the wheelarches, and there is a slight dent in the bootlid where it has obviously been closed on something. We would not consider any of these issues as serious though, they're all very easily sorted. With some minor bodywork and paint correction, it will soon be looking in tip-top condition.
• Characterful 2.4 litre straight six • 4-speed manual transmission with overdrive • Significant mechanical work carried out in current ownership • Maintained by an ex-Jaguar mechanic
One of the great things about the Mk2 is the drivetrains - they were all excellent. We particularly like the 2.4 straight-six, as it offers a lovely engine note, a healthy slug of power and yet is still reasonable to run and maintain. With the manual transmission in this car, it really does emphasise the car's sporting prowess and agility.
We're told by the owner that this car drives very well – it certainly starts nicely and idles well. And when you consider the amount of mechanical work the owner has undertaken, it's definitely confidence-inspiring. Just some of the work they've carried out includes: rebuilding the carbs last year, new rear springs and dampers, completely refurbished fuel system (including a new fuel tank), refurbed steering system, new brake master cylinder and new rubber seals throughout the car. So confident is the owner in the mechanical integrity of the vehicle that, pre-Covid, they drove it to the south of France and back with no issues.
As you'll see from the photographs, the engine bay, underside of the bonnet and some engine components are showing signs of surface corrosion. But this appears to be purely cosmetic and should be easily remedied.
Some cars are classics merely by fact of their age and rarity. Others are regarded as classics by reputation – and the Mk2 certainly falls into that category. From it's rogue-ish history to a starring role in one of British TV's finest dramas, the Mk2 is culturally imprinted on the British psyche. But it's also a great car in its own right - smooth powerplants, bags of style and luxurious interiors make it a darling of the classic car community.
This is a great example too – solid, straight and honest, with a lovely interior and significant restoration work having been undertaken. If you want a handsome classic you can use every day, this is perfect. If you want a stunning show car then, with a little bit of time and effort, this could definitely be the car for you. Whatever the case, we think this is a cracking buy, and is going to make its new owner very happy indeed.
Just don't blame us when you start listening to opera and investigating murders at universities...
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1964 Jaguar MkII
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