This 1958 Jaguar Mark 1 is a recent find out of a San Jose estate, and has been parked for the last 30-plus years. Equipped with an automatic transmission, the big Jaguar sedan isn’t going for much right now with bidding at a mere $600. The seller says rust is limited to some holes in the floor and surface spots, and that most major components are included in the sale. Find it here on eBay and located in Redwood City, California.
If you do any sort of research on Jaguar forums, it becomes pretty clear this is far from the most desirable saloon Jaguar made. Most pundits would tell you to aim for a 3.8 model with the manual overdrive transmission, as those are the ones that bring the big bucks at auction. It’s tough, because the bodies generally look very similar across the generations, but there are subtle differences. This example looks particularly tired without the requisite wire wheels, but that cosmetic enhancement won’t be hard to make. And Lordy, gray over black isn’t exactly an exciting color combination!
The interior presents far better – well, what you can see of it anyway. The seats and console trim have already been removed, revealing clean carpets and no sign of the floor collapsing. The seller notes the wood dash will need to be restored and the photo below shows the seats need some love, too. The engine has also been removed but is included; this Jaguar bears all the hallmarks of a restoration started but never finished. Some components are missing, too, as the seller notes: “Not present are carburetors, intake manifold, radiator, valve covers, shifter/linkage, toolkit (jack is included), or keys.”
As you can see, many of the parts not seen attached to the Jaguar are included. Some other cool details worth noting are that the Jaguar is entirely matching numbers, as verified by the seller, and a fairly early production example as it’s the “…356th Jaguar Mark I chassis produced in 1958.” If you can’t swing a 3.8, a Mark 1 like this is not a bad way to go; still, I’d want mine with a manual, but this one is going cheap enough to be worth a watch.
Jeff, I hate to break the news, but this is no S-type, no matter what the owner claims: instead, it’s an early 3.8 (no E-Types in ’58!), which shared some pieces with the XK-150. So no IRS, but outboard rear brakes (and drums at that), and the lovely old unsophisticated dashboard….
Oddly enough, this is my preferred Jag sedan though, like you, I’d rather have the manual ‘box and overdrive. In BRG, please, with a tan interior.
I’ve heard horror stories about where rust eats at these cars, and that has always been enough to keep me from hunting for one. They are lovely cars to drive, though and comfortable if you’re sitting in front.
All things considered, it’s not for me, but I certainly hope someone buys and restores it. If they should happen to convert it to three-pedal operation, so much the better!
But if I was in the market, I’d want to seek out a more knowledgeable (or more honest?) seller.
Ray, the listing details about the association with the E-Type made me nervous. I should have listened to those lingering doubts. Thanks.
Jeff, I did make one mistake (yes, even I get it wrong sometimes!): this would have a 3.4 engine, not a 3.8. Later cars — the Mark IIs — had 3.8s.
Not a big deal: unbolt the 3.4, bolt in a 3.8, and it’s good to go!
I too prefer the Mk-I over later models and, I even prefer the disc wheels over wire wheels which look anachronistic and out of place on most post-war cars although yes, it sure would be nice to have a four speed w/overdrive. I once successfully chased a home invader/burglar through country roads and city streets for several miles in my own 3.4L 1958 Mk-I (shiny black with red leather) and won the praise of my local Chief of Police for my efforts. Very exciting stuff back in 1970 or so.
I am more Leary of missing parts and bolts when I see dismaning on a car .
Drop some acid the car will come together……….:)
@Jeff Lavery – Jeff, Jeff, Jeff… “…without the requisite wire wheels, but that cosmetic enhancement won’t be hard to make.” The live rear axles must be changed, the fronts are somewhat less involved, but not by much (among other bits and pieces.) I submit that the changeover to wires approaches major surgery levels of effort and $.
But you are correct, it needs them.
As for your pronouncement on the color combo… Grey over Black with a RED leather interior is breathtaking. This is one of the BEST color combos.
This is not just my opinion. A Corvette that is Black with a Red interior (of any year) is called a Black Widow, and demands a premium in the market, all other things being equal. The same is true for virtually every other car, too.
Otherwise; this is a nice find. Thank you.
My $.02.
Even though the seller describes this as a California “barn find”, Jeff is perhaps subconsciously compelled to focus on the “estate find” aspect and describe it as such. I would do the same I’m sure, Jaguars just have this mystique!
Go to the junkyard and buy a running XJ6 4.2l engine and trans and drop it in there. Then sell the 3.4l engine to a XK 120/140/150 owner and you break even on the engine swap or make a little cash to spend on the project.
Gray over black? Looks more like completely worn away black over black.
@Dan in Tx – Either way, it’s all good.
I was thinking primer over black.
Wouldn’t bother me at all…it would go in the body shop door this color and come out BRG!
@RayT – BRG over a RED interior would look absolutely SMASHING!
I worked on many of these when they were 10 years old or so. Brake parts were hard to find then, but might be easier now. We converted one from automatic to stick in one day. However lots of rusted donor cars were then available. Now parts might be hard to find.
As usual, with an old Jag, the body work and the interior restoration are the really pricey parts. As my wife would say, she can smell the old interior and the stale gas from here.
@Ben T. Spanner – Your wife knows.
I remember when I was working for BAP (British Auto Parts) in the 1970’s. The owner called me in one day and gave me a list of parts to pick from the warehouse, load into a truck and take to the landfill. He said he needed the shelf space for higher-demand parts, and those ‘D’ items just weren’t moving.
I asked him whether I could take them home instead, and he said no that he would have to report the ‘gift’ to the IRS. Otherwise; he wouldn’t get the tax deduction. There were untold treasures in that huge pile of parts, that I reluctantly and regretfully dumped. I was too stupid to know that I should have taken them home, anyway. You live, presumably you learn.
Dump them and then pick them up.
I know nothing about Jaguars, but one of my favorite TV shows shown on PBS over the years is Inspector Morse, one of the most unpleasant characters ever on TV. He drove a Jaguar MK2 (according to Wiki, probably wrong) which was featured in all of the episodes from 1959 to 1967. And then, in the new eps about Morse as a young detective, Endeavour, he also has one but it’s not featured as much.
1959-1967…? The show came out in 1987 and ran until 2000 as I recall. It was a Mk2 as you say, though. I think young Endeavour drives a Mk1 in the prequel – not his car this time but his boss’s.
I know it’s an anathema to the faithful, but I love the body but would definitely just swap in a trusty ol’ 350 small block and get it on the road. But then again, I’m obviously no purist. I want to DRIVE it, not tinker on it.
Would make a lovely wedding car.
I would put it on a Chevy V-6 S-10 chassis. bill
Rod444 and Carnutbill your both right I’d gut that under carriage out and stuff in all gm parts. Steering, suspension, rear axle, 350 sbc. 700r trans and even the seats out of an impala I’d keep the black/red colour scheme and just enjoy a problem free car that would take me wherever I’d want to got. A 90’s impla would make a great donor car.
Trouble free with 50s era UK wiring etc?
@Oingo – You, sir, have said it all. Universally, those who are not among the cognoscenti INVARIABLY seek to destroy what they do not understand (The Jaguar Mystique), buy gutting the driveline and replacing it with pure crap. Then they leave in tact the only part of Jaguar that should never have been… ANYTHING that says LUCAS anywhere on it.
You wanna be constructive? Take out everything that was even remotely associated with Lucas, and replace it with German, Japanese or even American parts, and there is NO Jaguar aficionado who will do anything, except applaud.
You will then have the entire Jaguar driving experience intact, and have exorcised the Lucas unreliability demon.
Gave you a thumbs up.
the 3.4 version of the XK engine is fine, smoother and more revy than the larger versions, I would change it to stick shift, not that hard to do, Mk2 jaguar parts should bolt up quite easily, looks like it has a fair bit of rust hiding under the rattle can primer, when the rear seat pan has rotted the rear jacking outriggers will be shot, the wood and leather restoration will be expensive, very expensive but a rare and nice car, and what is the big downer on Lucas electrics, their car stuff was quite reliable, 6 volt motorcycle was maybe a different story but most old motorcycle electrics were rattled up and down the road in all weathers, and often parked outside every night.
@pat gill. I was reading your comment and thinking “this guy has soul, he’s owned a jag or two”. Keep the original engine. Add a stick shift, definitely a plus to make a truly enjoyable driver..and then you revealed to the whole world that you have never met the Prince of darkness in the flesh. The horror stories abound! There are shell shocked owners that to this day resemble WW1 survivors twitching and writhing and mumbling about starters or possessed switch gear. No my friend, you are not one who has experienced The EVIL that is LUCAS! You Sir should speak in hushed tones or maybe, just maybe, the wrath of LUCAS will vent upon you.
It’s… it’s… almost as though you’ve owned a Jag, MG or Triumph or two. Big thumbs up!
Before those of you who have not owned a British car get the wrong idea from this thread (and I like Lucas jokes); Lucas made components, such as starters, generators/alternators. The issue is a primative wiring harness with butt connectors instead of multiple pin connectors. And every butt connectors is a potential voltage drop or lack of continuity in a circuit. A day spent cleaning corrosion out of butt splices will yield. **decades** of reasonable service! I have owned my ’71 Triumph since ’89. I’ve put over 90k miles on it and it had over 100k on it when I bought it. Back in the mid ’90s, I made twice monthly day trips from North of Detroit to a plant in Columbus and back (470 miles) in the Triumph. And I did an engine swap also, I replaced the 2L with the 2.5L Triumph engine.
@rod444: I did an SBC swap on one of
these back in ’72. My car was given to
me by the owner of a used car lot who
wanted it gone. Along with the GM driveline, I had the car completely re-
wired replacing that troublesome and
downright dangerous Lucas electrical
system that did extensive damage to
my car before I got it. As Ben T. Spanner
said earlier, spare parts were nearly
impossible to find and new ones were
non existant. Had my car not been in
such good shape when I got it, I might’ve
paseed on it or sent it to the crusher.
But the car I had was complete and very
servicable. Other than the fire damage
which took out the wiring under the dash
and destroyed the engine bay, the rest of
the car was in remarkable condition. It
even had the picnic basket in the trunk
with all the china and silverware in place!
The SBC (350, TH 350) swap was rather
straightfoward with the exception of
narowness between the frame rails.
The exhaust manifolds barely fit between
them. The motor and tranny mounts would have to be replaced with those from the year of the engine and tranny
that you are swapping into the car. Mine
were 1970-71 units to match the 350 V-8
and auto tranny pulled from a totalled
Chevy Caprice. The driveshaft was a
custom made piece with a Chevy U-joint
in front and a Jaguar unit in the rear. All
the throttle and shift linkages were measured and modified to fit. The steering assembly was a mix of Jaguar
and GM parts that were machined to
fit together seemlessly I used a GM
dual tank master cylinder that was then
mated to the car’s brake lines. The wheel
cylinders were custom made to bolt right
up to the backing plates that came with the car. The original radiator was re-cored and used again and the tank was
redone to achieve full pressure cooling.
The old rubber gas lines were replaced
by stainless steel units and the tank sending unit came from a Chevrolet.
The only other major expense I had was
replacing that beautiful hardwood dash
board that I filled with Stewart Warner
gauges.
After the car was finished, I used it as a
daily driver for a short time before I sold
it to a local doctor for $4,000.00 who saw
it parked somewhere and had to have it.
I’ve worked on a lot old cars, but this one
was the toughest projects I’d ever done.
People who drove my car told me that it was a near perfect mix of British design
and American reliability. As far as I know,
its still out there providing its new owner
the same pleasure I had with it.
@Kenneth Carney – I am simultaneously thrilled and repulsed at your story. I guess the old Jag 6 was destroyed by the LUCAS fire, huh? In that case you did the best you could with that which remained, I guess.
At least you exorcised it of the LUCAS minions of the Dark One.
Broke my heart that you couldn’t use that beautiful wood dash.
Big thumbs up.