In the pantheon of Mark 2 Jaguars, this one surely stands head-and-shoulders above the rest: a matching-numbers example owned by a former RAF mechanic for twenty-six years, it’s been fully restored to an incredibly high standard and is simply wonderful to drive. There’s a massive history file to back it up, and it really does have to be seen to be believed – this is an extremely impressive example of the breed.

The Mark 2 may look like a sensible and sedate upper-class cruiser, but the 3.4-litre Jaguar can hit 60mph in sub-11 seconds, with the sort of chassis that may encourage mischief. Of course, mischief is something that goes hand-in-hand with the big cat, for better or worse; sure, this Coventry icon may have been developed with the express aim of fulfilling Sir William Lyons’ game-plan of ‘grace, pace and space’, but when you get down to brass tacks this is a cops ‘n’ robbers car. It has wisecracking bad behaviour interwoven through its very DNA. No wonder this chassis made for such a successful Touring Car racer. Those sober lines hide a lot of get-up-and-go.

It’s not just a racy tearaway, however. The Mark 2 is usefully large, impressively luxurious, and offers a cosseting and pleasant ride. With a beautiful design which has mellowed into one of the all-time greats, and pleasingly rugged mechanicals, this is a usable and satisfying classic – one to enjoy every day if the fancy takes you. Whether it makes you feel like a 1960s bank manager or like you’ve just done over a bookies depends entirely on the eagerness of your right foot.

The interior of a Mark 2 Jaguar is a splendid place to be, and this one is no exception. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that this is exactly how you’d want a Mark 2 to be presented: the original leather rear bench is artfully weathered, eminently comfortable and looking lovely, while the front seats have been reupholstered, with new doorcards to match. The rear picnic tables are present, and all of the wood trim is in place and delightfully presented – the dash-top has been re-veneered, and all the other wood re-lacquered.
The windows are all operational, and all of the gauges work.
The steering wheel is in good condition, as are the carpets and the headlining (which has a few marks, but is fully secure). The only non-standard elements inside are a double USB socket mounted to the lower dash, working with a new FM chip within the original radio and an electric retractable aerial. The car has also been fitted with a hazard warning light kit, along with rakish red seatbelts with modern recoil units.

In the boot, everything is solid and complete. There’s a spare wire wheel, complete with mallet for the spinners, and a lovely detail is the original period toolkit.

Just look at those door gaps! It’s clear that attention-to-detail was very important to the former owner, who carried out the restoration over the course of seven years. (A former RAF mechanic and lifelong engineer, he carried out the lion’s share of the labour himself, but the parts and materials alone amounted to c.£17,000.)

As you can see from the photographs, this really is a beautifully presented Jaguar. And this beauty isn’t just skin-deep – the extensive restoration works this car has received mean that it’s pleasingly straight and solid underneath. The bodywork is very special too, with the fresh paint shining like the proverbial new pin. There are one or two very minor rust bubbles beneath the paint on the bottom edge of the bootlid, but aside from this it all presents superbly.

Over the course of the restoration, the Jaguar received a number of new panels including inner and outer sills, door bottoms, front floors, valances, plus repair sections to the A-, B- and C-pillars. The doors close with a reassuringly solid thunk, all of the window glass and light lenses are good, and every correct piece of chrome is present and gleaming, having been re-chromed. The door locks have also been replaced. The wire wheels are very tidy indeed (they were new from MWS in 2019), and wear matching tyres with decent tread.

It’s an impressive mechanical package in this Jaguar. The original 3.4-litre engine has had new timing chains and sprockets, the head skimmed with new valves and unleaded seats, the tappets professionally reset and the shims ground to suit. There are new engine mounts, and a new electronic distributor. The gearbox has been replaced with a Type 65 unit from a 1972 XJ6, with the propshaft lengthened and balanced to suit, and the original column-shift retained. The braking system has had all new discs, copper lines, seals, master cylinder and handbrake. The steering was fully rebuilt, with a Type 420 power steering axle beam and new power steering pump, and new bushes. And the electrics have been fully gone through – a full replacement loom, rewound dynamo and new voltage regulator.

The car has only covered around 3,000 miles since the restoration, and these have largely been touring miles – including the London-to-Brighton run, Wild Atlantic Way, and jaunts to the Isle of Man and the Lake District. So the quality of the work speaks for itself here – a properly built car that’s been engineered for proper use and enjoyment.

This wonderful Jaguar really does feel like the life’s work of an artisan. Its long-term former keeper carried out a glorious and painstaking restoration, maintaining fastidious records throughout. It’s a matching-numbers car, but with a few desirable upgrades (including the swap to red paint from its original grey, and the practical XJ6 gearbox setup), and the results are sublime. Tastefully presented, thoroughly enjoyable to drive, this really is a remarkable Mark 2 that will surely give its next keeper many years of happy memories. 

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