Shiny Carmen Red paint and bright chrome lead the way on this first-year 1956 Jaguar Two-Point-Four sedan. After 32 years with one owner, this cat is ready to pounce on new turf. Check out more pictures and details here on Craigslist, where the “ridiculously low” price of $25,000 snags the title. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this well-kept Jag. The listing states the Clancy, Montana classic has covered 78,000 miles, while a very similar-looking ride at Hagerty traversed nearer to 89,000.
As one might expect from the vehicle’s name, the inline six-cylinder mill displaces 2.4L (152 cid). As it’s called “Two-Point-Four” in Jaguar’s American sales brochure, the seller admonishes those who would call it “Mark I,” a moniker sometimes falsely and retroactively applied to this predecessor to the Mark II. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details. The seller describes this as original except for the tuna can air cleaners, the latter suffering measurably diminished airflow after denying a single dragonfly entry to the combustion chambers.
While the Two-Point-Four might be mistaken for a sports car at the front, the classy skirted hindquarters and upright rear window suggest calm and dignity. Wide white-wall tires add to the saloon’s luxury persona. This one runs and drives “great,” according to the seller. A neighbor in my rural Pennsylvania hometown owned a similar era Jaguar in immaculate pearl white, emerging from a tiny one-car garage occasionally for quiet touring.
Originally painted Dove Gray, the 1-of-19,992 Two-Point-Four acquired the double-red color scheme after a repaint “40 years ago,” according to the listing. A no-nonsense floor shifter stirs the cogs in the four-speed manual gearbox. Jaguar called this model a “sports-touring car” with the comfort of a family sedan and the performance of a “true sports car.” According to Wikipedia the central instrument panel minimized differences between left and right hand drive units, a concept utilized by modern vehicles including the Saturn Ion. Do you have room in your collection for this first-year classic Jaguar?
Nice Jag. The opening picture of just the front reminded me of yhe one Inspector Morse drove for many years. His was newer with a black vinyl top. I wasnt a huge fan of the vinyl top I always thought these looked better with a steel painted roof. Driving one of these is on my bucket list for sure.
My first thought, too…Inspector Morse
And electrics by The Lord of Darkness. Just like one More episode.
Morse, not “More”.
Why do the British drink warm beer? they have Lucas refrigerators!
In my older years while I still enjoy cars, I would rather drive (and have) this Jag than an E type. It is a stick and probably a p*** to drive as a cruiser. It’s nice enough to drive and not worry about the value depreciating. The classic car market is headed in a different direction than being cars that you drive and enjoy. That’s no fun for me. The only thing I would do to this car is remove the rear fender skirts. That is not a look for me!!
Look again. Don’t think anyone is removing those skirts.
Surprised no one mentioned the license plate.
I’m no Jaguar expert, but Hagerty values shows this car in good condition at around $14,000 and excellent condition at $21,000. I can’t imagine where $89,000 came from.
89,000 would appear to be the stated accumulated miles.
Between the two, I”d take the one without wire wheels as I like to actually DRIVE my cars, rather than spending afternoons “tuning” spokes hoping to make the wheels round again, but then, these are Jaguars we’re talking about, so the prospect of driving them regularly really exceeds credibility anyway. There’s a reason these cars are so old with such low miles . . .
I had one of these back in ’73. Story was that the 2.4s were so underpowered for the American market Jag dealers would give one way free if you bought an XK. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but the one I had was a real slug. But the amount of wood in the interior is amazing! Great looking cars. Funny how some things stay in my mind while I can’t remember what I had for breakfast! I bought my Jag parts from Tourist Trophy Garage, 3442 Tchoupitouolas Street in New Orleans
good write up…definitely see the ‘attack the road ahead’ look as it faces you, then the reality of a luxury ride with mother earth
The Mk IIs are far more attractive to my eye. I had a ’62, Old English White with black leather. She was a beauty!