1963 jaguar Mk2 MkII - Excellent driver for club events, tours and dinner out

1963 Jaguar Mk 2 3.8L Description

Jaguar introduced the Mk 2 at the 1959 Earl’s Court Motor Exhibition. Their new high performance luxury saloon (sedan) was an instant hit, sporting a voluptuous monocoque body, airy greenhouse, and a sumptuous leather and wood trimmed interior usually reserved for a Rolls Royce or Bentley. Fitted with the 3.8 liter straight six engine, the Mk 2 was the fastest production sedan made in the early sixties, and remained Jaguar’s fastest 4-door until the introduction of the XJ12 in the early seventies. Disc brakes on all four wheels, an exotic rarity at the time, ensured that stopping power was up to the task. Described by Road & Track in August 1960 as “a sedan with sports car performance”, it’s no wonder the Mk 2 was a favorite of both British police departments and bank robbers. Today, these classics are the most sought after Jaguar sedan. You can find Mk 2s on the lawns of high brow car shows, entered in long-distance classic car tours, and competing ferociously at racing events from Goodwood to the Carrera Panamericana.
I’ve had a passion for British cars from childhood, and in 2014 had the opportunity to buy this beautifully refurbished Mk 2 sedan from a guy whose deceased father was a life-long Jaguar collector. Originally purchased in California, the refurbishment was done by a shop in Santa Ana and included rebuilds of all mechanical systems, paint and body work, rechroming of exterior trim, and restoration of the interior. The woodwork is stunning.
Upgrades were added during the rebuild to make the car more drivable and enjoyable. Wilwood front brakes and an XJ6 Rack & Pinion steering conversion, both from XKs Unlimited are big improvements over the originals. The RetroAir A/C kit is seamlessly integrated into the dashboard and includes high-capacity alternator, aluminum radiator and electric fan. The evaporator blower was recently upgraded to a new Spal unit. When the suspension was rebuilt, adjustable SPAX shocks were fitted, along with five new Dayton chrome wire wheels. Recently added items include a classic Nardi steering wheel, Bell stainless steel exhaust system, Prothane rear suspension bushings, plush Lloyd floor mats, and RetroSound AM/FM/USB stereo. Included in the sale are the original jack and lead hammer for the wire wheels, an original vinyl covered and well-thumbed Jaguar shop manual, Jaguar parts and service manuals on CD, and a folder of receipts and records. The car looks and drives beautifully, and is ready for a morning run for coffee, dinner out with another couple or a long distance tour.
The pictures shown above are a subset of the full gallery of recent photos that can be found here:
Regarding maintenance, oil and filter have been changed every 3,000 miles, a tune-up was performed within the past 4 months (plug tips are a nice medium tan), the brake pads have most of their life left, and the battery is four years old. The Vredstein Sprint tires have plenty of tread and show no indication of sidewall cracks, but they’re date-coded 2008 and should probably be replaced by the new owner.
This has been a terrifically fun car to own. Shortly after delivery, I provided chauffeur service (complete with black suit and chauffeur’s cap) as a wedding gift for my best friend’s daughter. I’ve done a couple more since, and the car is always a big hit with the wedding photographers. Its driven weekly around town and is a regular at local club events and tours. It’s nice enough to have taken 1st in Class twice at the Texas All British Car Day show.
This car is not a trailer queen and I want to be honest about its imperfections. There are some chips and blemishes in the paint, including several small bubbles that have not grown in the time I’ve owned the car but will eventually need attention. Similarly, there are minor blemishes and wear in the interior from regular use. The headliner and sunvisors are original and not as pristine as the rest of the interior. Stitching on the strap for the backseat armrest could use to be redone. The clock isn’t working but can be easily converted to digital control for $125. The heater control cables need to be either lubricated or replaced. As with virtually all British cars from the 1960s, it leaks oil to mark its territory, but never so much as to require topping up between oil changes.
It’s never overheated on me, even in 100 degree weather with the air conditioner on, attributable to the generally sound condition of the engine, high capacity radiator and electric cooling fan, and an auxiliary air scoop installed under the front bumper. However, running 10% ethanol fuel with outside temperatures in the 90s or above, the car occasionally exhibits symptoms of mild vapor lock when parked at the end of a long drive. This disappears after driving a block or so to get air flowing through the engine compartment and cool fuel to the carburetors. Or the hood can be left cracked open a little when its parked to vent hot air from the engine compartment. This is a non-issue for bidders who have access to ethanol-free gas, live in northern regions or are smart enough to not drive old cars when it’s hot as blazes outside.
Conservatively, the condition is between a #2 and #3 on the Hagerty Insurance valuation guide scale. Additional details on any aspect of the car are available calling 512.750.2271.
An opportunity came up to buy another car of my dreams and now it’s time for someone else to enjoy this timeless classic. Bidders are encouraged to inspect the car before submitting a bid. The successful bidder will have 7 days after the close of bidding to back out of the purchase if the condition is found to be other than as its been represented.