Highlights
- Very early left-hand drive automatic Mk IX, confirmed by Jaguar Trust Heritage Certificate
- One-family ownership in California from 1963 to 2014, laid up in a garage from 1980
- Comprehensively recommissioned including gearbox, cylinder head, suspension, brakes and fuel system
- Bumpers, overriders, hub caps and wheel embellishers re-chromed to a very high standard
- Inspection is highly recommended
Video of the car running has been added to the end of the walk-around video
The Appeal
The Jaguar Mk IX marked a sharp evolution in the lineage of Jaguar's legendary large saloon, combining a new, larger 3.8-litre XK engine with power steering, disc brakes and automatic transmission as standard. This was a remarkably sophisticated specification for 1959, and really set the marque apart from its competitors. Left-hand drive examples are uncommon in the UK, and this very early production car, built on 22 January 1959 and shipped to the USA the following month, carries considerable provenance.
This Mk IX spent over fifty years in California, owned by a single family in Berkeley from 1963 and laid up in their garage from 1980. That dry-climate storage has paid dividends, with the spare wheel well being the only area that reportedly required welding during the car's period under restoration.
Shipped to the UK in 2014 and acquired by the current owner in 2018, it has since undergone a thorough recommissioning. The gearbox and carburettors have been completely restored, the cylinder head refurbished, and the suspension, brakes, fuel system and exhaust renewed. Re-chromed brightwork sits alongside the original red leather interior, woodwork and headlining, complemented by new carpets and a relined boot. A Jaguar Trust heritage certificate accompanies the car.
Shipped to the UK in 2014 and acquired by the current owner in 2018, it has since undergone a thorough recommissioning. The gearbox and carburettors have been completely restored, the cylinder head refurbished, and the suspension, brakes, fuel system and exhaust renewed. Re-chromed brightwork sits alongside the original red leather interior, woodwork and headlining, complemented by new carpets and a relined boot. A Jaguar Trust heritage certificate accompanies the car.
Key Information
- Mileage: 39,013 miles indicated; the odometer is believed to have gone around the clock, with an estimated actual reading of approximately 139,013 miles
- Country of registration: First registered in California, now registered on UK plates
- Technical inspection status: MOT exempt
- Technical specs: 3,800cc inline six-cylinder petrol, 3-speed automatic
- Paperwork: Jaguar Trust heritage certificate present; no service history available
The Detail
- Gearbox and carburettors completely restored
- Recent complete cylinder head refurbishment
- Engine fitted is from a MkII 3.8 with a 9:1 compression ratio; the vendor states it starts instantly from cold on auto choke
- New rear road springs, bushes, shock absorbers, front suspension bushes and stainless steel exhaust fitted
- New fuel pumps and brake pads fitted; front brake callipers restored along with vacuum servo and master cylinder
- New seals fitted on power steering
- Fuel tanks removed and treated; new internal filters and level sensors fitted
- New timing chains, hoses and fan belt fitted; recent oil change
- Heater element restored
- Five refurbished wheels fitted with new radial tyres
- New spare wheel well fabricated — the only welding required on the car
- The vendor reports all body and door seams are totally rust-free; body panels very good with only surface rust
- Chassis and underbody reported as totally rust-free but not cleaned
- Black paintwork mostly as found with some crazing and blemishes; boot lid, rear wings and spats re-sprayed
- No dents or discernible scrapes; overall paint described as acceptable but middling, with some areas better than others
- Bumpers, overriders, hub caps and wheel embellishers re-chromed; other chrome items in original patinated condition
- Red interior mostly original; door cards reported in very good condition
- Rear seat leather has some cracking; front seats refurbished some years ago in California, reported in very good condition but slightly faded
- Headlining reported in very good original condition
- Woodwork kept as found; picnic tables in good condition but more exposed areas affected by sun
- The vendor states the dashboard is in very good condition with original green baize lining in the glove boxes
- All new red carpets fitted
- All instruments reported working except the clocks
- Sunroof opens and closes well; drains not blocked
- Boot relined in correct Jaguar beige including spare wheel cover; boot side panels and lid panels original, refurbished by the owner
- Door tool boxes refurbished; some original tools, original jack and wheel brace present
- The vendor describes the brakes and steering as working very well
- Virtually all rubber components replaced during recommissioning
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