2023-05-12 12:17:13 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 5/23

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1960-jaguar-mark-ii-gNddZ4

Auction description:

1960 Jaguar MK2

Colour British Racing Green

Odometer 55,870 Miles

Engine size 3781

Seller Type Private

Town Glasgow

Location Scotland

Country United Kingdom

From a dry climate: based in West Africa for many years

Rebuilt engine to high specification

Resprayed paintwork, original interior

First registered 20th July 1960

The car was sold new in 1960 to the managing director of the Sierra Leone Development Corporation 

Remained in West Africa for some years, until being brought back to the UK by his colleague 

It was reported then handed onto an Ecurie Ecosse mechanic, who succumbed to ill health and was unable to complete the rebuild

Letters from Jaguar cars at the period, apologising for invoice delays, confirm the history

A Coombs development build commenced in 2015 and much mechanical restoration and improvement was carried out 

Road Tax and MOT exempt 

Original buff logbook on file 

Two registered former keepers

The registration number is non-transferrable 

Typewritten correspondence from Jaguar Cars Ltd, 1960

Handwritten letter from a former owner upon sale in 2007

The Interior

Superb original leather upholstery

Walnut veneered dashboard

Fabulous red carpets

This Jaguar’s interior is a portal to another world. Stepping into the car transports you immediately back to 1960, with its warmly patinated leather upholstery, walnut veneers and wooden steering wheel. 

The seats appear to be comfortable and supportive and have gently mellowed through decades of careful use, to build up an unrepeatable air of faded charm. Some would choose to have the whole car reupholstered, but others will certainly appreciate its originality.

The same can be said of the veneered dashboard and door cappings. Yes, they are a little chipped and cracked in places, and one or two pieces of veneer are missing, but they are actually surprisingly complete. A skilled restorer could certainly breathe new life into them and bring out the character of their finely figured grains. 

Bold, clear Smiths instrumentation bedecks the dashboard, and is accompanied by a full set of switches and warning lights. We particularly enjoy the large ‘OVERDRIVE’ lamp atop the steering column. The heater controls are currently disconnected, and the headlining remains to be fitted

To the rear, the boot has been freshly repainted to match the bodywork. It remains untrimmed, but still has its full size spare wire wheel stowed below a panel in the floor. 

The Exterior 

Repainted in a fantastic shade of British Racing Green

Bodywork in excellent condition, having spent many years in West Africa

Excellent chrome trim, including wire wheels

Benefitting from its many years spent in the dry climate of Sierra Leone, this Jaguar’s structure and bodywork are very well preserved. The body panels look nice and straight and the car retains very good shut lines. 

It has been repainted in British Racing Green, which eminently suits the car, and this appears to have been completed to a good standard. The paint looks fresh and free from any significant blemishes, thanks to seeing little use since it was applied. 

The only imperfections noted are a blemish on the front right wheel arch, rear quarter light, left hand front side light, bonnet, and lower front of driver’s door.

Underneath, the chassis rails and floorpans all look well preserved, and there are no obvious signs of damage or corrosion that we could see. The car is running on a set of chrome plated wire wheels, which are highly polished and wear a matching set of Pirelli Cinturato tyres. All the chrome trim has reportedly been newly plated, while the windscreen trims, B post covers and boot badges remain unfitted but will come with the car.

The Mechanics 

The vendor forms us that engine was built by Paul Gardiner Racing Engines to the following specification:

High-lift camshaft

Straight ported big valve and gas flowed head

High compression competition pistons

Steel lightened conrods

2½" S.U. carburettors

Lightened flywheel 

competition clutch and oil pump

Rear main oil seal conversion

Fully lightened and balanced 

Other mechanical work carried out includes:

All suspension bushes, dampers and springs were replaced

New propshaft and universal joints

New brake discs, master cylinders, hubs and bearings

Gearbox and rear axle were reconditioned

Quick steering box

E-type brake callipers fitted 

Stainless steel wheels, bumpers and exhaust

8-way fuse box

Triple core radiator

New heater matrix

New wiper motor

Electric fan

Dynalite high torque starter motor and ‘Dynamotor’ retro alternator 

Electronic S.U. fuel pump

The car is said to be in as-new mechanical condition and has been thoroughly road tested. It has also been performance tested and reportedly reached 140mph, at which point the speedometer was no longer able to keep up.