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Storage Unit Find: 4-Speed 1961 Jaguar MK2

It’s like a British smoking room on wheels! Jaguar advertising referred to the Mark II as, “Grace… Space… Pace”. This example is a bit forlorn looking on all three fronts but perhaps it can be resurrected. Let’s look it over and decide. This Jag is located in DeLeon Springs, Florida and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $1,025, with two bids tendered so far.

The Mark II was in production between late 1959 and 1967. The Jaguar 240 and 340, essentially rebadged Mark II’s, followed for model-years ’68 and ’69. Considered a mid-sized “saloon”, the Mark II’s production volume at its Coventry, England assembly plant reached about 83K units.

This Mark II is listed as having been barn bound for fifteen years and it’s a bit worn around the edges. The listing details are light so one needs to make do with the images or make inquiries. The finish is flat to burned-through, but there is no evidence of top side rust or crash damages. In spite of its inside respite, this car looks as if it were parked outdoors for a good number of years – note the dried-out rubber components. The grille is an interesting study – it’s intact, which isn’t always the case with Jaguars of this era, some of its teeth are just a bit out of alignment, but fortunately, all of the trim is still in place. Curious to note is the fender trough under the opened bonnet, it’s showing a white underlay which makes one question if this Jag is a repaint from white to red.

Under the hood is a top-dog 220 HP, 3.8 liter, in-line, six-cylinder engine as opposed to the lesser pleadings that were available in the Mark II. It’s a non-runner but it’s not stuck as the seller states that the engine turns over. Typically found, is the four-speed manual transmission, in this case, assisted with an overdrive unit. The engine compartment presents itself as looking complete and not missing any essential components.

The interior is where things start to fall apart. There are no comprehensive images but from what can be spied, the passenger seat appears to be wearing a duct tape cover, the instrument panel and dash are degraded, the windlace is dissolved, the driver’s side carpet is shredded, and the passenger-side door card, at the least, is peeling apart. Also, the integrated radio and speaker unit seem to be in the trunk. Interiors of Mark II’s are an impressive environment, a sort of “class” that can be added to the whole Grace Space Pace tagline but the smoking room vibe of this Mark II looks more like it has gone up in smoke – further evidence of extended outdoor storage.

It would be easy to state that this Jaguar Mark II looks like a “solid” restoration candidate. But without seeing the underside, knowing the powerplant’s complete condition, and getting a comprehensive look at the interior, specifically the floors, there’s no way to know with certainty what it will take to return this one-time British beauty to its former greatness. So, I’ll leave that estimation up to those that are better informed on Jaguar Mark II mechanical and aesthetic particulars. So, what do you think, a salvageable candidate?

Comments

  1. Avatar Kurt Member

    The veneer on the dash appears to be curling up as though it has gotten wet, not a good sign. Need more pics of all over the car.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    Reminds me of one an acquaintance picked up when I was in Calif. He found it somewhere out in the desert, parked. Thing was it’s body including the glass has been sandblasted by all the winds and sand during the years it had been parked outside. At least he knew the condition of the Sheetmetal because it had almost no paint on it any more. The glass was planned on being replaced because you couldn’t see out of it due to the effect of the sand on it. I was soon transferred so I don’t know how it turned out.
    Personally I thought it had beautiful lines, but then again at that time I had not owned a British car. I learned my lesson a few years later when I bought a Spitfire and that was enough of a lesson on British electrical systems to shy me away from them to this day.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Gerard Frederick

      THE big booga-boo, Lucas electrics, otherwise known as ¨The Prince of Darkness¨.

      Like 1
      • Avatar Mark

        I had a Mk2 once, it had 1 fuse, that we knew of. Black pill that unscrewed on the fender well. Had a glass AGC type fuse. The resistor on the oil pressure gauge was cracked, so it only showed oil pressure for a few minutes before it got hot enough to open the crack. Loved it!

        Like 1
      • Avatar JagManBill

        Lucas’s switches have three positions – dim, flicker, and off….

        Why do the British drink warm beer?… They have Lucas refrigeration

        Why are all Lucas wiring harness wrapped? To keep the smoke from leaking out too quickly.

        we could go on…

        Like 0
  3. Avatar Ben T. Spanner

    A great car which needs a great deal of work and money. The repaint is the least of it’s worries. Search Google for the cost of interior kits then shop for better examples.
    As always, buy the best that you can “afford”. Restorations always exceed the budget for time, space and money. I see one for $45,000 that is decent, and runs.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Graeme

    There are many MK 2’s available – much better to get good runner with decent bones. But it does have the most sought after spec. 3.8 with overdrive. Someone may buy it for the overdrive alone.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Luke arnott

    Run.Away.Now,

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Lowell Peterson

    Easy restoration here!….Just some cubic$$$ and equal amount of patience and time!😉

    Like 3
  7. Avatar tompdx

    IMHO – This is a good candidate for restoration because of the drive train. This is the most desirable combination available: 3.8, with a 4 speed with O/D. The interior kits for these are very expensive, but that’s understandable with all of that leather and mohair. It will be beautiful and a joy to drive when done! BTW – Grace … Space … Pace was a Jaguar tag line across all models, even the E-type.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Bill

    Sold $4000.

    Like 2
    • Avatar tompdx

      Sounds about right.

      Like 1
  9. Avatar chrlsful

    I like their ‘bigger cars” (not XK) Mark 4, 5; SS saloon, XJ6, etc. There is No Thing like the “E” and will all ways love it but enjoy seeing the others every time.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Kenn

    Somebody got a bargain.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar JagManBill

    if it was a numbers matching car, $4k was a steal

    Like 1
  12. Avatar 914Shifter

    It’s strange that the write-up did not mention the “28 boxes of new and used parts” that comes with the car!? f

    Like 0

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