Vehicle Description
From the earliest days of S.S. Cars through today, Jaguar's
luxurious and sporty saloon cars have sustained the company through
highs and lows. In the mid-1950s, Jaguar was riding high with the
success of the XK sports cars and the world-beating C-Type and
D-Type sports racers. They even enjoyed surprising success with the
massive MkVII and MkIX in British Saloon Car racing in the hands of
Sir Stirling Moss and others. But Jaguar wanted to appeal to a
broader audience, so in a move to boost sales and help their
chances on track, Jaguar introduced the smaller 2.4 and 3.4
saloons. The new mid-sized car debuted in 1955, built on Jaguar's
first fully monocoque chassis. The curvaceous body was influenced
by the XK sports cars, with power coming from the same twin-cam
engine which was mated to a choice of manual or automatic
transmissions. Further refinements to the shape and mechanical spec
brought the MkII of 1959 which featured a larger greenhouse and a
host of mechanical improvements including the addition of the hot
3.8 liter engine from the E-Type. The new engine substantially
upped Jaguar's game in British saloon car racing and even rallying,
making the new car an overnight sensation on track. The MkII is
considered by many to be the father of the modern sports sedan, and
one blast in a gutsy 3.8 makes it very clear to see why. The MkII
and its derivatives would remain a cornerstone of Jaguar sales
until 1969 when the XJ6 was ushered in to consolidate all of
Jaguar's four door models into one single line. While no doubt a
brilliant car in its own right, the XJ6 lost some of the tough-guy
appeal of the MkII 3.8. Our featured example, a 1960 Jaguar MkII
3.8, is a beautiful, numbers-matching example that has been treated
to a very high quality restoration to concours standards.
Originally delivered to Kingston, Ontario in late 1960, this Jaguar
is presented as it was originally equipped - with a 3.8 liter
engine, smooth-shifting Borg-Warner automatic transmission and
finished in handsome Cotswold Blue over red hides. According to the
history file, the car remained in Kingston, Ontario for much of its
life until it was discovered in unrestored condition by Bernard
Chartier of Quebec City in 2001. Mr. Chartier soon began a full
restoration on the MkII, which stretched to a span of five years as
he painstakingly researched every component of the car, using
Jaguar Club judging manuals as reference. The process of the
rotisserie restoration has been very well documented and receipts
for parts and materials alone top $30,000. Only subtle deviations
from standard were made, mainly in the fitment of knock-off wire
wheels, which add a pleasingly sporty character to the MkII.
Included in the history binder is a JDHT Heritage Certificate that
verifies this as an original, Canadian-delivered car, and that it
has been restored to its original colors. Mr. Chartier debuted his
completed MkII at the 2007 British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont; a
wildly popular event among Canadian enthusiasts. The car debuted
with a 3rd in class, and in subsequent visits to the event he
corrected minor deductions to score a first in class by 2011. Since
then, the car has been used lightly, driven approximately 2,500
miles a year and kept in heated storage during the winter months.
Today, the Jaguar still presents in very fine condition; the rare
Cotswold Blue paintwork remaining excellent and presenting a
striking contrast against the red leather interior. The body is
very straight with excellent gaps all around and very high quality
restored brightwork. We appreciate the level of detail Mr. Chartier
strove for, such as using proper Lucas Fogranger fog lamps, and
fitting painted wire wheels that impart the car with a sporting and
purposeful appearance. Despite the comprehensive nature of the
restoration, a good deal of the fine original interior was expertly
preserved. The original red door panels and rear leather seat were
saved and carefully rejuvenated, presenting in amazing condition
today. The front seats were retrimmed in new red leather and the
carpets replaced with proper Wilton wool. Jaguar used a veritable
forest of wood trim in the MkII, all of which has beautifully
restored to a high level on this car. With use, the cabin has taken
on a particular warmth, the new front seats blending in nicely with
the character of the original materials on the rear bench and door
cards. A period-style Moto-Lita steering wheel adds some
sportiness, and the car retains the original instrumentation and
Radiomobile radio in the center console. The original,
numbers-matching engine remains in the car, delivering excellent
performance all around, and thanks to rebuilt suspension and
four-wheel disc brakes, the handing and braking are up to spec as
well. The knock-off wire wheels are fitted with Vredestein Sprint
Classic tires that deliver modern performance with classic looks
and sizing. Engine presentation is outstanding, the 3.8 liter XK
six-cylinder very well detailed with correct decals, blue cylinder
head paint, correct air cleaner, glass washer bottle and even the
Lucas-branded battery cover. The boot is properly presented with
correct materials and finishes, and an original Jaguar tool kit is
included, complete with the round metal case. This is one of the
prettiest MkII saloons we've had the pleasure to offer and we are
happy to report that the driving experience is equally as
outstanding. The sale of this fine Jaguar will include original
service manuals, owner's handbook, original tool kit, restoration
manuals and a comprehensive history file including the Jaguar
Heritage Certificate. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a
beautifully restored example of Jaguar's archetypal sports saloon,
ready to be enjoyed on the road.
