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Surprise Barn Find: 1960 Jaguar Mark II

While many of us dream of discovering an actual barn find, some folks just stumble upon it accidentally. That’s the case of this 1960 Jaguar MKII sedan, which was discovered by a property owner who acquired some land with no knowledge of the barn’s content. Of course, if vintage cars aren’t your thing, a long-idled Jaguar is downright abhorrent, so that’s why it now lives here on the Chicago Car Club website, with a $14,900 asking price and surprisingly little rust (relatively speaking) for a vintage British sedan parked since 1983. 

This executive saloon wore an incredible original paint job, consisting of red paint over a red interior with red(!) steel wheels and polished hubcaps – this had to have been a killer look back in the day, and the seller notes the original paint is still visible underneath the current black repsray. Other details worth noting is how early this car fell in the production span, as the seller notes it was the 773rd MK2 sedan produced. The seller says the chrome bits are holding up well and that the glass is all original, too.

Being in the first 1,000 of any vehicles made is certainly a rare fine, and that combined with the original colors make this a surprisingly good barn find. What I mean by this is it’s not impossible to find these vintage Jaguar sedans in dilapidated condition, but finding one with interesting provenance located in the U.S. is far harder to do. While I haven’t checked the archives, I have to believe the original color combination is somewhat rare, and the interior is holding up shockingly well considering how long it was parked in a snowy Iowa barn.

The motor does not currently fire, but here’s some good news: the seller hooked the car up to power and all the various electrical systems returned to life with ease. There’s no sign of any timing chain or camshaft damage, and they have confirmed this is the original drivetrain. While anything is possible with a non-running car, these are all positives. Even better, the frame shows no signs of rot-through, and the most extensive rust is noted in the passenger side rockers. Old Jaguars parked in barns where winter is a thing rarely fare well, so this MK2 is giving off some positive vibes at the moment. Is it worth restoring?

Comments

  1. Avatar JohnD

    I have never understood how being early or late production mattered or why UNLESS that meant special features were involved (think early E-Types with flat floors, outside bonnet locks and welded louvers). Otherwise, isn’t it just a number??

    Like 5
    • Avatar SAM61

      Agreed….it’s a number, just ask the guy who owns the last production Yugo, Pinto or Vega.

      The car needs to or has to be special from the get go.

      Like 2
  2. Avatar tompdx

    True, it’s just a number, but I always thought my Triumph TR250 was (even more) cool because it was #102. It did have a few odd leftovers from the TR4A, like narrower wheels, chrome door pulls, chrome gauge bezels, and the old steering wheel.

    Like 2
  3. Avatar leiniedude Member

    I would be interested to know how they have a clean title? Survived in the glove box for 35 years?

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Alexander Member

    Looks like they got to it just in time…that “barn” looks like it was about to collapse under the weight of the snow. Surprised they just willy-nilly wrenched the swing-out garage door up without thinking it might fall on the roof of the Jag. And yeah, where did they get the title…part of the land deal?????

    Like 1
  5. Avatar pat gill

    in one picture I can see 60% of the rear seat bottom, one rear frame rail looks crispy where the rear spring mounts, all jacking points rusted out, rears totally missing, it is very rusty, VERY rusty but it is also very early with 7 pleat seats and recessed sun visors, will also have un-braced door window frames, labor of love but worth home restoring if you have deep pockets and a lot of mig wire, almost all parts are available,

    Like 6
  6. Avatar Pat Gill

    mine was parked in 1979, survived a bit better, although it is newer….. bought it on ebay a few years ago,

    Like 10
    • Avatar JohnD

      My hat is off to you, but how did you get it up there????

      Like 12
      • Avatar Patrick Huot

        that’s what i’m wondering? and why would you do that??

        Like 2
  7. Avatar rapple

    Re: your question, “Is it worth restoring?” Not in any way that makes fiscal sense. With really nice examples selling in the $20-35k range the answer is pretty obvious. Even doing the work yourself, as @Pat Gill points out, there is a LOT of rust and any restoration effort would based on skilled sweat equity in addition to a healthy hit to the checkbook. If the car were almost free an ambitious do-it-yourselfer might consider it, but for anywhere near the asking price it makes no sense.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Kenneth Carney

    Run Forrest, run!! Did one of these in ’72
    and nearly lost my ass on it. Being a very
    naiieve kid at the the time, I jumped right
    in and started working. Yeah, I got the car given to me, but the cost of getting
    it roadworthy was enormous–about 2K
    I’d say but that was in 1972 money. The
    cost of saving one today would be well
    out of reach of your average car guy or
    gal even if they spread the cost out over
    many years. Knowing what I know now,
    I’d pass. Oh Mike, don’t forget The Creature From The Black Lagoon! It’s on
    Svengoolie tomorrow night on Metv at
    8PM your time (?) As for this car, walk
    away and don’t look back.

    Like 3
    • Avatar leiniedude Member

      Thanks Ken, I will be watching! I know Scotty here is a fan also.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Pat Gill

    I have a single sided car lift, with a pallet truck set up at one end, without the car on the lift you can move it around, or as I told someone in the Jag club, a bottle jack and 5,000 2″ blocks of wood! those stands cost me £100.00 a few months ago, bargain!

    Like 5
  10. Avatar JagManBill

    they got one two many zeros in that asking price….
    EDIT… finally got the pics to load. As rusty as this thing is, its a $500 to $1,000 maybe….

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Blinkster

    JagMan may be a bit light but after restoring an MGA, Austin Healey Sprite , 51 Jag and my current 1980 MGB , luckily my XK140 was tuneup every weekend and minor for the rest. If you restore a vehicle like this it is normally 90% love and somehow the $$$ are a bit of a nuisance but —–.Luckilly I had an ex Lotus (mentor) F1 mechanic and use of a bay at Dads dealership on weekends. I would have a hard time as the car itself is a fine piece of machinery but — again.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar JagManBill

    Maybe Blinkster, but there are currently a pair of early Mk2’s on CL here in Denver right now. Fairly clean cars (rust-wise) and from the pair you should be able to build at least one car and have a good basis for a vintage racer from the other. Plus, one of them has a title.

    The pair is only $3,000

    It one of those things that I find that the prices of some (potential) collector cars is still regional. I had a guy from the Chicago area contact me about a month ago wanting to trade me a TR7 with no engine for my Europa and parts stash. When I all but laughed at him, he indicated that car was a $2,000 car in his area. At the same time, a TR7 was on CL here in Denver with no engine for $500.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar ben Root

    iam sure any time u get involved restoring any jag its costly and there elc systems stink there nice to look at and those jack stands I wouldn’t get under them looks to unsafe to me

    Like 0
  14. Avatar pat gill

    The guy I bought the stands from used them to work on 6 and 8 wheel trucks, they had to weigh up to 12 tons? empty, has got to be safer than any Chinese car lift………..

    Like 2

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