Garage Dweller: 1957 Jaguar Mark VIII

Jaguar’s heritage began in 1935 when it emerged from the Swallow Sidecar Company. “Jaguar” was the company’s model name for a 3.5-liter two-seat roadster. At the same time, SS sold a 2.5-liter saloon. From these twin strands of DNA emerged a long line of nimble sports cars and elegant saloons with sporting tendencies. Always well-accessorized and sumptuously trimmed, Jaguar cars offered performance suitable for road and track, often in the same car. The Mark V of 1948 founded its reputation for fast, well-handling, luxury saloons. Today’s Mark VIII represents a refinement of that original idea – though deteriorated substantially from its fresh appearance in the showrooms of 1957. Neglected by its current owner due to time constraints, this big cat will require work before it graces the roads again. Thanks to numskal for sending this tip our way!

While the XK120 benefited from a new twin overhead cam six-cylinder, Jaguar equipped its first “Mark” cars with its aging overhead valve straight-six. That changed with the introduction of the Mark VII in 1950 – from then on, Jaguar utilized some iteration of its DOHC six, tuning it for increased horsepower in the Mark VII M. An “M” won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1956. When the Mark VIII was launched that same year, three cylinder heads were available for its 3.4-liter engine – the standard “A” type giving a rating of 160 hp, the “B” generating 190 hp, and the  “C” as used on the C-Type race car with a generous 210 hp. Two gearboxes were available – the Moss four-speed manual or a three-speed Borg Warner automatic. Despite an imposing 196″ length and a curb weight of over 3700 lbs, top speed is over 106 mph. This car’s motor turns, but it hasn’t run in thirty years.

As far as interiors go, nearly nothing is as lovely as a Jaguar saloon’s cabin. Leather upholstery, wool carpets, and generous wood trim coddles the occupants. Wear is evident on the seat surfaces and the headliner around the sunroof is loose. The shift from the Mark VII to the VIII brought a curved front windshield, extra exterior trim leading to two-tone paint, and a thicker grille surround. Aside from these minor changes, it’s difficult to tell a Mark VIII from its earlier sibling.

Damage to the driver’s door is a curiosity – we don’t know how it happened and the photograph doesn’t reveal much about what’s involved. The challenge of bodywork and mechanical refurbishment make valuing this Jaguar tough. It’s advertised here on craigslist for $4500. This nice Mark VIII sold about a year ago for $35,500, but this one found a home for considerably less. The new owner will retrieve this big cat from the San Jose, California area.