- Seller: Laura W (Contact)
- Location: Bakersfield, California
- Mileage: 29,999 Shown
- Chassis #: 00000
- Title Status: Missing
- Engine: 3.8-Liter Inline-6
- Transmission: Automatic
Jaguar’s Mark II has long been admired for combining formal British elegance with genuine sporting ability. With graceful saloon styling, walnut interior trim, leather upholstery, and available 3.8-liter power, these cars offered a blend of luxury and performance that still feels special today. This 1962 Jaguar Mark II 3.8 Saloon has been off the road for decades and is now offered as a genuine family barn find from long-term storage in California. Located in Bakersfield, California, it is offered as a Barn Finds Exclusive.
The seller’s father purchased this Jaguar in 1972 from a British neighbor, who reportedly bought the car new from Peninsula British Motors in Palo Alto, California. The car was last registered in California in 1977 and has reportedly been stored in the seller’s father’s barn in the San Joaquin Valley since the late 1970s. The seller notes that the California DMV no longer has a record of the car because it purges inactive vehicles after many years, so the title is currently missing.
Under the hood is a 3.8-liter inline-six paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The odometer shows 29,999 miles, which the seller believes may be original, though you’ll want to research whether there’s a paper trail to authenticate it. The engine condition is unknown. The seller recalls moving the car around the property in the late 1970s and believes it was last started in the late 1990s.
The exterior is finished in what the seller describes as original Opalescent Silver Blue paint. While the finish has not been washed or polished in many years, the body is described as straight overall, with no major damage apart from a few small dents. The seller notes that all glass is in good condition, the original hubcaps remain, and the whitewall tires are believed to date from the 1970s. The photos show a complete, graceful Mark II with honest age and long-term storage patina.
The interior features navy blue leather upholstery, walnut trim, analog gauges, an AM radio, and the elegant cabin details that make these cars so appealing. The seller states that the dashboard wood was refinished by their father in 1972 and remains presentable, while other wood areas may need refinishing. The seats show age, including seam splits in the front and rear upholstery, and the headliner/wood ceiling trim has deteriorated and will require replacement.
Several issues are disclosed. The trunk does not latch properly and appears to be missing a small plate around the lock. The exhaust system has rust and holes and will need replacement. The rear passenger-side vent window opener needs repair, though the seller believes the required parts are present. The original ignition key works in the ignition, glove compartment, and door locks, but the trunk key’s status is unclear.
Included with the sale are original Jaguar Periodic Maintenance Vouchers, a handful of old receipts, a spare Jaguar engine block, an extra transmission, and miscellaneous parts. The seller notes that their father collected spare parts for his cars, and those Jaguar-related items will accompany the vehicle.
This Mark II is a project that will require mechanical, cosmetic, and title work before it can return to the road. However, it appears to be a largely complete, dry-climate Jaguar with a long-term family history, attractive original colors, spare parts, and the desirable 3.8-liter engine. For the right enthusiast, this could be a rewarding restoration candidate, and the spare parts definitely sweeten the pot. With its elegant lines, honest history, and decades-long connection to one family, this 1962 Jaguar Mark II 3.8 Saloon looks like the kind of barn find that deserves to be brought back.
Having sat for so long, seller would be wise to provide compression test and leak down numbers on that 3.8L. That could give some comfort to prospective bidders. Car needs a complete new interior and headliner. Good news is that wood veneers don’t appear to be lifting, which means they can be stripped and refinished. I did this on a Mark IX.
GLWTA
Having just recently finished a multi-year refurbishment of a 63 Mark 2 with a 4 speed, I have empathy for this project. What is very impressive to me is how totally stock and unmolested this car appears. What discourages me is that with all that this project needs, the absence of a title is going to take a really big toll on the price (I think, anyway??) I really hope someone is inspired to take this on, as long as they realize that it will be costly and time consuming! It will be a very expensive undertaking!! GLWTA.
Having to deal with a MGB GT with a similar title issue. I would be hard pressed to even think about purchasing this car without the owner having title in hand. IF the owner can show previous ownership with old paper work. The path to a “new title” will help tremendously. Even with all the paperwork all set to go. It was a several hour ordeal at the California DMV. Had to pay for title change, had to pay for registration which required the car to to have insurance even though with the VIN inspection with the car on the trailer and blatantly not drivable in the foreseeable future. Plus dealing with the snobish attitude that seems bred into the California DMV employees. Consequently, even being close to California, It would really have to be a fantastic deal with title in hand for me to even consider buying a car there. I used to sell commercial vehicles all over the country and have dealt with DMVs in almost every state as lease vehicles usually require “special handling” . And the only state worse than California is Colorado. They try their best to emulate California and then take it to a whole new level of attitude and complication. With rule changes between counties and townships.
1976 – first girlfriends dad had one on the side of the house. Caught us in there with “our pants down” after a Frank Zappa concert
Good Times!
🥰🤣
This could be a great value; I am 6 hours away and tempted to go take a look. My only issue is, of course, it is an automatic. Does anyone know a company that could out an automatic for a manual?
Thanks
I’m not going to say its easy, but its not that difficult either. You’ll need a flywheel, gearbox, gearbox mount, driveshaft, If I remember correctly, you’ll need the clutch master as well. The automatic brake pedal is made up of the standard brake pedal and clutch pedal. So all you’ll need is the master (and shaft). The existing driveshaft can be modified for the gearbox if I remember. There are some other odds and ends but thats basically it. There are kit providers all over than can sell you the whole package (for around $8-10,000 us). OR you can enjoy the hunt and piece together the project for about half that.
anyone know if this is a reserve auction?
Hello everyone, This was my father’s car, which he bought from our neighbor’s widow after her British husband died. I was 12 at that time, and am now–gulp–67. I remember this all vividly because I had long admired the car when our neighbor drove it and was ecstatic when my Dad bought it. I spent many a day just sitting in it pretending to drive. I read the comments and wanted to let everyone know who might be interested in the car know that I do have a copy of one of the last registrations for the vehicle. My dad had 10 cars and I sold all but the Jaguar, which I thought I would restore one day. “One day” has yet to arrive and I am going to be selling his ranch and will have no place to store it. So reluctantly I’m letting it go. That said, I sold two other vehicles that I could not find the pink slip for and found out that California no longer had a record of them so I could not obtain a replacement title. Apparently after 30 years of being out of their system due to their non-operational status, they purge the record. I know I saw the pink slip when I first started going through his records but the that was years ago and when I tried to locate it all I could find was the registration. Unfortunately not everything was in one place so I discovered items related to this car and others in various places. I am not a car or restoration expert, but I will try to answer any questions you might have. It was also my father’s practice to have a spare engine and parts for his cars, so as you can see there’s another engine and transmission included. Thanks for considering this special car. Again, please reach out and I’ll try to answer your questions.
Boy would I like to own this car.
Now that’s a beautiful Saloon. I hope you find a buyer who can bring it back to it’s former glory
I agree with Jimbosidecar. These are beautiful cars and would be great to see this one back on the road too.
Hard pass. You’re going to spend an enormous amount of time and money to get it driveable again and then it’ll break down after 50 miles.
There’s always a Debbie downer… This site is called ” Barn Finds” son…
I get it and completely respect that opinion. I sincerely do. But it doesn’t make what I said incorrect.
You will spend a fortune getting this thing restored and operational again and it’s still going to break down shortly afterwards.
I love the look. So I think it should be gutted mechanically. Everything. Fix the interior back to gorgeous and drop in a whole new drivetrain. Something really reliable and sounds fantastic.
If the work is done competently by a classic Jaguar mechanic, as opposed to a V-8 mechanic who wouldn’t know an SU carb from a fruit fly, why should it break down after 50 miles? When serviced correctly by trained mechanics, these cars were reliable performers.
Wiring may be the big issue- stored in a barn all those years, those field mice love to chew on wires.
” I hates those meeces to pieces”
In a way, I must take issue with ALL the sellers that even hint at restoring these vehicles without a title. Here in NC, a person cannot sell a vehicle, while pandering to the potential customer’s need to restore said vehicle. There are many sellers out there alluding to the title was “lost” or “misplaced, and I’ll get it to you as soon as I find it”. Granted, even in this state, one can apply for a “bonded” title and wait for the State to discover that it’s not “hot” or on some nationwide search for the vehicle. I know this because I bought a Cougar with the understanding that he had the title, and for some reason, he couldn’t put his hands on it right that minute, but check back later, and he’ll have it. Many trips there over the course of a year, netted no title. A visit to the Highway Patrol’s vehicle inspector, resulted in the aforementioned diatribe. However, he did “lean” on the seller, with the understanding that he would resolve this in court muy pronto, which he did. A month later, while it was costly, I had the title in hand, in my name. So…..caveat emptor…buyer beware, or he who don’t look, gets took. ‘Nuff said”
I understand your concern regarding the title. I do have a former registration and other documentation evidencing the car was my father’s. My father bought this car from our neighbor in 1972 and had it until he died. I was told by a California car collector who bought two Datsuns from me, also my father’s vehicles, that the California DMV purges all inactive vehicle records after 30 years (it’s been 50 since the Jaguar has been registered). That collector bought two vehicles, one of which had no pink slip. If anyone knows something to the contrary regarding California’s DMV and how I might obtain a copy of the title record then I would pursue it.
Having to deal with a MGB GT with a similar title issue. I would be hard pressed to even think about purchasing this car without the owner having title in hand. IF the owner can show previous ownership with old paper work. The path to a “new title” will help tremendously. Even with all the paperwork all set to go. It was a several hour ordeal at the California DMV. Had to pay for title change, had to pay for registration which required the car to cto have insurance even though with the VIN inspection with the car on the trailer and blatantly not drivable in the foreseeable future. Plus dealing with the snobish attitude that seems bred into the California DMV employees. Consequently, even being close to California, It would really have to be a fantastic deal with title in hand for me to even consider buying a car there. I used to sell commercial vehicles all over the country and have dealt with DMVs in almost every state as lease vehicles usually require “special handling” . And the only state worse than California is Colorado. They try their best to emulate California and then take it to a whole new level of attitude and complication. With rule changes between counties and townships.
Your saying that California’s DMV will issue a new title if you can show, for instance, an old registration? And you’re saying they required you to register it? Usually California does not register non-operable vehicles.
But if your are out of state, they nail you for anything they can. What I understand from the guy that I bought the MGB GT from. It took them a month to research to find or not to find anything bad before they said that they would issue a title. My car was on a trailer and I was buying the trailer also. Made me register both the car and the trailer. (Trailer had no plates on it at the time as it had never been registered since new. So at least they didn’t charge .e for back registration.
Even though I’m from NC , I worked contract to LAPD in the late ’70’s. I brought my NC registered ’66 T-bird with me. Of all people, my first month out there, I got pulled by 2 of those very same officers, for “out of state plates”. I reasoned with them that I’m only temporary out there, but they didn’t want to hear of it. Well… I got to talk with Tom Bradley about the issue, and had the judge dismiss it, on condition of registering it in CA. That is a story for another day…coming full circle on the title issue: in CA the only 2 documents that are “goof proof” are the title, or the MCO (Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin). MCO’s are hard to come by, unless you requested it when the vehicle was purchased new.
The MSO (Manufacturers Statenent of Origin ) is rarely seen by the owner/purchaser. But the holder of the MSO is entitled to a title in which ever state it’s presented to. Depending on lien holder requirements. The MSO will go to the lein holder or directly to the purchasers DMV. I have had cases where the California DMV is so screwed up. That I have had repeat customers who pay up front for their vehicle that live in California that I handed them the MSO for safe keeping as California DMV kept losing it. Normally a dealership will not release the MSO to anyone until the check clears or the deal is funded by the lender. It is the only “ace in the hole ” for the dealer to make sure they are paid. It is very important for the dealer to get paid as most dealer’s inventory is floored. (Owned by a lender like Ford Motor Credit or GMAC for instance) Because when the vehicle leaves the lot the dealer has a set amount of time to pay off the car. (Usually 10 business days) If they don’t pay it off in that time they are “out of trust ” with the lender and can lose their franchise. Which is what happened to most dealers that closed in the financial issues in 2007 and 2008.