Sedan racing, anyone? Jaguar participated, and how. Privateers, oh yes, but also Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, John Surtees and many other luminaries of the track, rally courses and hills piloted these lithe cats to wins. Capable of 220 gross hp and 125 mph without any tuning at all, the Jaguar Mk II 3.8 turned into a tiger when more effort was applied, achieving 260 hp or more. Why am I nattering on about racing? I think this early Mk II might make a fine race car prospect. It’s not completely original, it’s missing a few bits, it doesn’t run – yet it’s not rusty (according to the seller). It’s cosmetically acceptable for track purposes. It’s listed here on eBay, bid to $3050, reserve not met. The listing includes two long-ish videos documenting its retrieval from slumber and pre-sale detail work. Haul it home from Eugene, Oregon and if you live close by, maybe we could see you at SOVREN’s Columbia River Classic!
The seller has installed a new electronic ignition system, distributor, wires, plugs and coil (in glaring red), so the engine will at least turn over on starting fluid. The air cleaner assembly is missing, the wiring harness is essentially gone – replaced by a modern patch job – and there’s corrosion on the valve covers. The free-revving 3.8 liter twin-cam six cylinder is my favorite of Jaguar’s offerings, though the 4.2 is no slouch. This motor is, tragically, paired with an automatic. But if we’re going to rip this engine bay apart anyhow, it’s easy enough to fix that little problem, though the Moss manual gearbox was not exactly a gem. Unibody construction, four-wheel disc brakes, independent front suspension and a live rear axle contribute to excellent handling characteristics.
The interior has been cleaned up, the better to show off its burl wood instrument panel, delicate factory-original steering wheel, and overstuffed seating. The upholstery is likely ambla vinyl. The seller might have expected leather in here, but early Mk IIs were supplied with vinyl as standard. The trunk contains a jack and a tool or two; there’s no mention of manuals or receipts. These early sedans still have toggle switches – a favorite vintage feature.
A dent in the driver’s door is the only serious damage to the sheet metal; the rest of the body is straight as can be with good gaps. The tires are brand new. The glass appears hazed in a couple of these photos, as does the chrome. According to the seller, the car may have originally been red. Its current shade is not an original color for ’59 – nor even an original Jag color (appearing too intense to be Primrose). As far as prices go, a buyer can pay almost anything from four digits for a project car to six digits for a concours example. What do you think about this Jag – does it deserve a complete restoration, would you make it into a driver, or do you like my idea of sending it to the track?
I’ve posted this photo before, but if anyone wants to picture one in red, here you go. Whenever I see one of these I immediately think of Inspector Morse. ( My wife and I watch a lot of British TV shows). But John Thaws character drove this classy Red Jag from the beginning. It was as much a star of the show as the actors. I will always love the early E types, but these Jaguar MK 2 sedans are truly great cars.
Ooh, I really like that red over the current one.
Thaw used to say that this car was an absolute mongrel dog to drive and it was full of filler because it was also lightly crashed a couple of times during the show. Happily, some years after the show finished, it was bought and went through a full nut and bolt rotisserie resto and is now “as new” or better.
And like ALL Jaguars, it caused the producers no end of trouble because it so often refused to run. My experience with Jaguars is such that I will never drive one further than I care to walk back from!
There’s the black one from Endeavour, as well.
That “faux” vinyl spray on roof looks wildly out of place on this car. Brings to mind the saying about pigs and cosmetics? Otherwise a very dignified car.
The Jag back axle was one of the staple components of the British hot rod scene, along with the Rover V8.
This car predates the release of the Jag IRS (1961 in the E type) so popular with hotrodders.
Always loved the way these drove. A high school friend (late 60’s) had one but with an automatic. I always preferred a manual trans. These model (to me) are more classic with a stick trans!
Beautiful Jag. The couple body blemishes look to be an easy repair. Hate to see the dreaded steering wheel cover!
Agree on the steering wheel cover! To me, there is nothing worse than a ‘lace-on” cheap steering wheel cover. Ripping one off is the first thing I do when buying a car. At least, buy and install a true ‘stitch-on cover’ that looks semi-professional. I know, I know…everyone doesn’t have the talent to take the time to do that.. but it is a shortcut… and if there is a shortcut here, where else has a shortcut been taken? ( just one of my restoration ‘bug-a-boos”!)
Actually , air cleaner is present, and wiring harness is there and in good shape, other than the ‘add on’ of non original horn, and a few other non-original miles. The VIN# on this car also shows it was #21 of the 3.8L MKII series of cars, which seems like a significantly low production number ?
Wonder if someone has a Tremec 5-speed conversion kit?
Driven Man used to. I haven’t looked in a while. There are several suppliers for such kits in the UK and AU.
A friend of mine recently bought a Tremec kit from TDM for his MkII and was not impressed with the quality of parts, FYI.
Actually, air cleaner is present on this car, and wiring harness is in good shape, although it had a few ‘hacks’ to add aftermarket horn and a couple of small repairs. VIN# indicates it is #21 of the entire 3.8L MKII series of cars, which seems like a significantly low number to raise interest?
A few notes – a “59” Mk2. Yes for some reason there are 59 Mk2’s out there. But technically they are 60’s. Production for the duce started in October 59 as a 60 model (I own the 3rd oldest 2.4 LHD still out there). For some reason, some of these when they got to the states were titled as 59’s instead of 60’s.
“Ambla” (aka vinyl) didn’t make Mk2 use regularly till the 240/340’s of 67 as a cost cutting measure. Up till that time, leather was standard.
I was wondering if it is a one-owner, why do they think it was red originally? Those taillights are from a 61-model year, it is true years can messed up. For instance, I bought a new Austin Healy 3000 12/67 in Ontario, and I drove it into Detroit. It was registered 1968, at the time English cars weren’t able to meet federal emissions regulations. Jaguar, Rollers, and Bentley are the exceptions, I suppose if the customs officer was on top of things he could have refused entry. Back to the Jaguars. I had a 61 3.8 that had a 4.2 in it and was 4-speed O/D. The skirts were smaller than the ones pictured. I was a great cat to drive, I also of the older body-designed cars I had 3 XK 150s, E-XJS.
I was wondering if it is a one-owner, why do they think it was red originally? Those taillights are from a 61-model year, it is true years can messed up. For instance, I bought a new Austin Healy 3000 12/67 in Ontario, and I drove it into Detroit. It was registered 1968, at the time English cars weren’t able to meet federal emissions regulations. Jaguar, Rollers, and Bentley are the exceptions, I suppose if the customs officer was on top of things he could have refused entry. Back to the Jaguars. I had a 61 3.8 that had a 4.2 in it and was 4-speed O/D. The skirts were smaller than the ones pictured. I was a great cat to drive, I also of the older body-designed cars I had 3 XK 150s, E-XJS.
I heard some where the Morse Jaq had rust holes you could see thru in the door boards time the series wrapped. Any event , looked good on camera other than the top. Darn great program too. One makes a cameo in the first season of Lewis
I’ve read all of Colin Dexter’s Morse books. There, the Jag is described as black.
Turning this sedan into a track car would be really stupid. It’s got the wrong drivetrain to start and the interior, though not original looks too nice to trash. Doesn’t look like it’d take to much to get it back in nice driver condition. Why trash a solid car?
The earlier 2.4 Compact Saloon came in 1955 and ran through1959 with the addition of the 3.4 engine later in the run. It was re-named later after the MK2
was designated and then called the MK1. Morse drove the red MK2 and
Endeavour drove the black MK1.
Never read the books. Need too. That explains why the Jaq is black in the prequel