It is funny how the styling of some vehicles is completely tied to their country of origin. For America, Corvettes and Mustangs carry the flag. Citroens of all types are more French than the Eifel Tower, and Japanese Kei cars could come from no other place. Other than a full-house Rolls Royce or Bentley, no car better represents the Union Jack than a vintage Jaguar. This 1961 Jaguar Mark IX Saloon for sale on Craigslist in Phoenix, Arizona is more British in appearance than Winston Churchill (who was half American by the way). Complete with a numbered leather hide interior and rear seat drop-down champagne trays, this amazingly well-kept British luxury car is being offered at an extravagant $41,900. Is that a reasonable price for a stunning sixties motoring experience that is lacking only a jar of Grey Poupon mustard?
The car you see here is more British than one of those big furry bearskin hats. This 1961 Jaguar Mark IX still wears its original paint, and the interior is the same one it rolled out of Coventry with so many decades ago. That interior is covered with hides that still bear the number they were stamped with when new. It is also equipped with a sunroof and a hidden Bluetooth system.
Also consider that the dignified good looks and smooth, swooping lines hide a very competent machine underneath. Produced between 1958 and 1961, this car was an evolutionary improvement of the Jaguar Mark VIII. It came with a larger 3.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine and was upgraded with power steering and four-wheel disc brakes. Believe it or not, these are popular vintage race cars in England. If you pay attention to any of the races at Goodwood, there are whole classes filled with scores of these Jaguars racing about.
This one would not be a good foundation for building a race car. All of its original components are still intact. The polished wood dash complements the leather interior, as does the plush carpeting. We are told that all of the gauges work, and that the transmission has been rebuilt.
The luxurious touches also abound in the back seat. Those folding trays are called champagne trays. Imagine the uproar today if champagne trays were brought back with today’s focus on sobriety in vehicles. Still, they are a cool accessory from a time that is incredibly far removed from today’s reality. The only time we eat in the car anymore is sneaking fries after going through the drive-through. Oh, and Starbucks of course.
Under the hood lies the previously mentioned 3.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine. We are told by the seller that the car runs and shifts great. How well such a car runs can be found in a review by the British magazine The Motor, which tested a similar car in 1958. Their test car had a top speed of 114 MPH and was able to go from 0-60 MPH in 11.3 seconds. While this is an impressive performance for a car of this type at that time, one must also remember that Jaguar already had a stellar reputation for producing competent sports cars.
All and all, this is an impressively well-kept and beautiful car. Its British styling must have stood out when it was imported into the United States so long ago. Hopefully, it finds a good home with someone in a British car club who enjoys driving such a car. Only Grey Poupon mustard with your charcuterie tray though. No champagne.
Again, tastefully done, Jeff. And this is the elegance we never see with any new car outside some Bentley or Rolls shop. It’s remarkable to have that many craftsmen of different genre create a mobile work of art that visually just cannot be ignored, that makes one just unconsciously stop breathing when you see it.
This would be right at home at the Guggenheim.
Does this era Jaguar use Whitworth?
I don’t see this extravagant at all if a Mk IX is in you hopes. Of all the MK IXs I have seen for sale in the last few years at $5000.00 or less up to the $20,000.00s not one would present as nice as this one after spending $50,000.00 or more at a professional restoration shop, maybe less as a do it your selfer.
A little surprised that this doesn’t have a proper AZ antique plate. Nearly immaculate, especially on the inside, for a car that’s seldom seen. Built more for driving pleasure than for speed and ahead of its time mechanically.
I own one of these. The very best ones are worth $50K. The pictures of this one are abysmal. No good pictures of interior veneers, trunk, underside or factory tool boxes. Engine compartment a bit worn and has bit of aftermarket. From what I can see it is a #3 condition. In my opinion it’s a $30K car at best.
Certainly Holmes, it is a dismal disaster for presentation. Shall we retire here upon this gorgeous foreigners backyard within the confines of darkness yearning for the crest of sun.
What a beautiful specimen for a daughter’s wedding.
Sorry bout getting a little whacky there. Just a thought came up on me.
Does the Jaguar have air conditioning?
You have to drive it to keep it running well, but would you trust it if you needed to be at work, or home, by a time certain? Owning one of these is like having a sail boat – you can’t count on getting anywhere at a time certain, but the experience is great as long as you do not have deadlines. I say this as the former owner of a 1960 Jag XK150S, when it ran, it was superb. I figured one week on the road and then three in the shop waiting for a part.
Yup, ask our then teenage daughter about that. Twice we attempted to take her and her date to the high school prom. Did not make it either time. Don’t even mention the name Jaguar in front of her now!!! Ironic in that, “normally”, it (86 XJ6) was a pretty reliable car . . . . just did not like going to the prom, I guess.
To MG Steve & Charlie: “…when it ran”, you say. I owned a ’57 early XK-150 and checked it out thoroughly before buying it. That is the key to not having problems. Well-looked-after classic Jaguars are reliable. That means having them serviced per the owner’s manual intervals, and the work needs to be performed by a mechanic trained in the upkeep of such cars…not your typical V-8 American mechanic. Buying a classic Jaguar that was not serviced regularly and competently is what creates cars that need to spend a lot of time in the shop. Blame the previous owners who did not fulfil their maintenance responsibilities, not the car or Brown’s Lane in Coventry. My XK-150 never let me down once and neither has my current ’69 E Type that I have owned for seven years.
Classic Jaguars are EXOTIC machines that are not particularly forgiving of shoddy maintenance–unlike an American pick-up truck. If you take good care of them, they will reward you with reliability, performance, luxury, advanced engineering for their day, and very good looks.
I had a 66 S type. lovely car, and like this one, if you have tons of money and good mechanics, buy it. but not at that price. way way too high.
Back in 1976 I was in Britain actually looking for a car to bring back to the States. Being young and not having the mindset of .hmm…I wonder what problems could arise…..I looked at a number of Mark IX’s. A ’59 and a’61 maybe. As I recall I was put off by it’s size.
So I ended up buying a ’52 MGYB from an archivist at the Tower of London. The semaphores, crank out window and small size sold me. I shipped it to a friend in D.C who drove it to New Orleans for me.
I sold it eventually to finance my move West.
This Mark IX is stunning. I always liked the two tone effect. It would be mildly interesting to see what someone pays for it though putting it on Craigslist is sort of counterproductive. :)
I remember driving around England with a friend of mine in the early 60’s who had one ,great fun car & the girls loved it . He never had any trouble with it only oil changes etc..
Such nice driving cars! We restored a 59 MkIX and a 59 Bentley years ago for the same client, at the same time, to the same level – and the Jag drove like a fairly modern car, the Bentley like an old truck…was shocked at the difference.
I’m pretty sure that if you do some digging you’ll find that MkIX’s weren’t “raced”. The MkVII on the other hand (same basic body shell) was however a very good salon racer with the factory VII “M’s” being quite successful. Sir William’s wife’s personal VIIM was indeed the first and a very successful car in its own right running the 3.4 from a D-Type, disc brakes behind Dunlop (D-Type) wheels and a slightly lowered suspension.
I may be wrong but that sure looks like an Arizona license on that MT car.
That is an Arizona plate.
To MG Steve & Charlie: “…when it ran”, you say. I owned a ’57 early XK-150 and checked it out thoroughly before buying it. That is the key to not having problems. Well-looked-after classic Jaguars are reliable. That means having them serviced per the owner’s manual intervals, and the work needs to be performed by a mechanic trained in the upkeep of such cars…not your typical V-8 American mechanic. Buying a classic Jaguar that was not serviced regularly and competently is what creates cars that need to spend a lot of time in the shop. Blame the previous owners who did not fulfil their maintenance responsibilities, not the car or Brown’s Lane in Coventry. My XK-150 never let me down once and neither has my current ’69 E Type that I have owned for seven years.
Classic Jaguars are EXOTIC machines that are not particularly forgiving of shoddy maintenance–unlike an American pick-up truck. If you take good care of them, they will reward you with reliability, performance, luxury, advanced engineering for their day, and very good looks.
Left hand steering well ok. Now to find a well heald gentleman to aquire and maintain this beautiful classic. Other than your avid Jag collector who would want to? It’s a shame British cars have such a low expectation in this country in terms of reliability, one that people on the other side of the ocean feel is undeserving but it is what it is.
Laurence–wow, you make quite a few unfounded assumptions about the care and maintenance I did and provided for that car.
I was talking about “previous owners who did not fulfil their maintenance responsibilities”…and that the key to not having problems it to thoroughly check out the car before buying it…so as not to “inherit” other people’s shoddy maintenance.
I’ve owned two Mark 9s. I found a black one in 1973 while at school at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania for $300.00. I was 20. Just painted, red interior. Extra wool carpet in back. I was driving a $35.00 ’63 Studebaker Lark Daytona at the time. Around 2000 I found one in Malvern, PA. Indigo over Cotswold blue. French blue interior. It went to Richmond VA.
I had one exactly like this in the late 60’s, I traded it in on a 1970 Pontiac GTO with a 455 / 4 sp. Wish I still had the GTO.
MG STEVE:I was talking about “previous owners who did not fulfil their maintenance responsibilities”…and that the key to not having problems it to thoroughly check out the car before buying it…so as not to “inherit” other people’s shoddy maintenance.