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It looks like someone started this 1953 Jaguar Mark VII project and gave up. The engine was swapped for a Chevy V8. A lot of the interior was done, but rodents damaged some of the new upholstery and much of the interior wood is missing. The big question is how well was the engine and transmission conversion was done. Those loose wires under the hood look pretty scary. There doesn’t seem to be much rust on the underside. So, do you think there is a future for this old Jag? Starting bid is $6,000 here on eBay. Someone has sunk a lot of money into this car and I don’t think they’ll get much back. It could be nice to have an elegant old Jag like this with a more dependable powertrain, but is this the one?
Hmm for 6000 US that’s cheap, I think its about 3800 UK so worth considering if it weren’t for mice, I’d wan’t to take a look at the entire wiring loom, there isn’t much on a classic car but whats there still makes sure it doesn’t burst into flames and if rodents have eaten their way through you could end up with a burnt out piece of wreckage on your hands or a car that needs a complete new wiring loom – this IS doable but expensive as you’ll have to get it certified by an Auto-Electrician, the body and chassis looks to be in fair condition which tells me this was probably stored properly in a weatherproof barn and I’m not too concerned about the Engine swap either as Daimler did take the mark II and put a V8 derived from the famous Buick-Rover small block which should mean that the chassis could take any appreciable increase in power.
If it were a littlecloser to home maybe I would say what the hell but the costs of Shipping, Importing, getting its VOSA test done, Taxing Insuring and Restoring it would be too high.
Cameron: Whats a VOSA test?
Greetings All,
The Daimler DID NOT use the U.S. engine.
It was Daimler’s own and it was a 2.5 liter Hemi head engine.
Own a MK& and a 9. Real easy to get upside down with one of these.
There are a few of these that have had the V12 installed. Frame has no issue taking the horsepower. The big issue with that is the high fenders make it like working of a 4 X 4.
Am I the only one around here sick and tired of every doofus who gets in over his head, stuffing a SBC in everything?
No sir, you are not alone. I’m gonna vote “crack pipe” on this one. Different site I know but it works here.
What with the engine & all the missing pieces, it would make a fun street rod project if you could get it in the $2500-5000 range…
What do you mean by this statement? “It could be nice to have an elegant old Jag like this with a more dependable power train, but is this the one?” What is so undependable about a Jaguar drivetrain? They are reliable if you just do a little maintenance. Does Dual overhead cam with a hemi combustion chamber and dual carbs scare you?
The Rover V8 was also a hemi and had no relationship with the Buick/rover v8 that I know of. it came in 2 sizes 2.5 & 4.5L
Hi Bob, I completely agree with you! The early Auto Trans are a little sloppy but very very dependable.
And you mean the Daimler motor right? I was going to say the same thing. Daimler motor has absolutely nothing in common with the Rover/Buick motor other than it has 8 cylinders… Lol.
Edward Turner of Triumph twin fame, designed the Daimler V8
Greetings All,
The Rover V8 WAS NOT a Hemi. It was the Buick/Olds/Pontiac small block that was sold to them in the early 60’s.
Don’t ever remember a 4.5 liter Rover just the 2500 and the 3500, 2.5 and 3.5.
Rover 4.0,4.2 and 4.5 motors were installed in Land Rover/Range Rovers later in life.
No Mark, your not alone. That cars a MK VIII (single piece wind screen) and its worth absolutely nothing with what’s been done to it. It isn’t worth much as a 100 point show car either though. There’s nothing wrong with the original Jag 6 motor as long as the people that own these cars understand that they don’t maintain them selves. I’m sick and tired of all these idiots that replace the original power train then put the car up for sale for twice what an original cars worth. Just because you sunk $10k into a car downs mean it’s worth an additional $10k. For those people out there that can’t afford to operate a jag go buy a Mustang or Firebird and quit butchering these classics.
Thanks for reading, Rant over.
In the UK that might be a buy but I think $6k is too much.
No.
ahhh…..no
This is at best a $1,500 maybe $2,000 car. The SBC conversion hurts it even more. Saddle tanks removed and a single tank under the trunk?…There isn’t room unless you remove the spare-well. Mice?…unless the seller has a bolt of the original material on the shelf, you’ll be lucky to match it or get close so figure on a complete redo of the interior. Gotta do it right in leather anyway. Missing wood?…available but you’ll find it cheaper to buy another car and take it out of that one. This folks, is a hack job no matter how well the swap has been done
Greetings All,
My issue with any transplanted American engine into a car is the statement……”all the hard work is done”.
Right after that you find out it has yet to be driven because the shift linkage and transmission lines haven’t been plumbed yet and the alternator needs to be wired and at least 100 other little details that will take far more time than properly fitting an engine and tranny still need to be done.
Understand why some have a SBC in them, Debated doing it myself to a V12 that I have that overheated but more likely to do a Ford.
V12’s that overheat are usually nice tables if you add a piece of glass to them.
Do yourself a favor and cut it loose. The V12 cars don’t have a great deal of value right now but one with a V8 in is worth as much as this MK8, nothing. I hate the U.S. motor swaps so much. They are the idiots way out and 9 time out of 10 end up like this poor car, hacked then scrapped. If I ever came into a little money I would find my self one of the rarest and most sort after Corvettes I could and install a Jag V12 just to put the idiots on the other side of “WTF?” “NOOOOOO WHY??” etc. etc… My comments every time I see one of these butchered classics. If you want to sell the overheated E let me know.
Greetings All,
Adam, the V12 wasn’t in an E, it was in a Sedan I bought for parts for an XJ12C. I bought it for the distributor and a complete set of new relays for the engine. Once the car was home, noticed the rest of the car was in great shape including the interior and felt bad just scrapping it. A Ford 5.0 was sourced along with its transmission with OD.
Corvettes……… Always liked the first year with the Blue Frame Six, with triples, the two speed auto grows on you but the quality or lack thereof in the early cars put them squarely in British territory, after all GM was trying to copy the Brits, pity they didn’t use SU’s.