2022-05-23 09:40:11 | pauls writes:

Car at auction 5/22

themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/jaguar/mk-x/69f13ab4-cbd9-4dfb-aaf7-6f8330e520 ...

Auction description:

Location: The Market HQ, Abingdon, United Kingdom

Seller Type: Private

Odometer Reading: 36000

Chassis Number: 1.D51752VW

Engine: 4235

Gearbox: auto

Steering position: RHD

Colour: British Racing Green

Interior: Old English Beige leather

Estimated Price: £20,000 - £25,000

If you are going to buy a classic car, it is often as much about the seller as the car itself. A knowledgeable and caring owner is really what is wanted.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the delightful Mk X we are lucky enough to be offering for sale has formed part of our seller’s collection of ten much loved classic cars, with an emphasis on Jaguar. Not only that, but he is also an ex-Chairman of the Jaguar Drivers Club and clearly knows his stuff. He is also now the Chairman and organiser of the Jaguar Spares Day. He has probably forgotten more about classic Jaguars than most enthusiasts know.

The car’s first owner purchased the car in Stanmore, Middlesex and then moved to Bracknell in Berkshire to work at Racal.

Fast forward to 1984 as that is when the Jaguar’s second owner retired. He parked the car in his garage and was not to see the light of day again until our seller rescued it and towed it away some 29 years later in 2013.

Apparently, the garage in which it had resided was heated, though the owner had lived in a largely unheated house. He had clearly loved the car as the invoices accompanying the car will testify.

Our seller has carried out a full restoration which includes the re-veneering of the wood, re-chroming all the shiny bits, completely renewing the interior and of course a complete respray was carried out.

He reports the car drives really well, cruising happily at 70mph on its way up to our premises. He says that the Mk X is claimed to be one of Jaguar’s best built cars and who are we to disagree?

With advancing years, our seller has begun the process of slimming down his collection from 10 cars to 5.

So, if you fancy a classic Jaguar saloon beautifully restored by a knowledgeable and capable owner, then you are looking at the right listing.

On the Outside

Think classic car and one colour immediately springs to mind – British Racing Green. Smart, elegant, and ideal for showing off the graceful curves of a Jaguar Mk X. It also helps to disguise the fact that this is a very large car.

The seller’s full restoration of course included a complete respray and it is therefore not surprising to find that the paintwork is in excellent condition. There is very little to fault, but we should mention the scratch on the bonnet.

Shut lines will impress, not always the case with older classic cars.

All the chrome has been professionally redone and therefore positively gleams. There is plenty of it so the new buyer will need to stock up on a proprietary cleaner.

The wheels have been refurbished and painted to match the body colour, with shiny chrome Jaguar monogrammed hubcaps nicely finishing them off. Of course, quality matching tyres are fitted all round, all with plenty of tread.

On the Inside

Our seller consigned the Mk X to Aldridge Trimming in Wolverhampton. They are a family run business that has been trimming classic cars since 1931. The employ over 30 specialist trimmers and machinists. They have gained a worldwide reputation for high quality British craftsmanship.

Our seller parted with the princely sum of £6,666.12 and if you look in detail at the pictures of the interior, you can see it was worth every penny.

The Old English Beige leather not only looks fabulous, but it also smells divine. A heady aroma greets all comers when a door is opened.

Since the retrimming took place, the Jaguar has been used sparingly, so it all looks as new. Door cards, headlining, carpets, all redone and looking splendid.

Not content with the retrimming, our seller also re-veneered all the wood and there is plenty of it. Dash, door tops and of course those rather swish picnic tables fitted to the front seat backs.

The atmosphere is that of a gentleman’s club and with such a roomy interior, there is space aplenty for an exclusive gathering.

Little details count and we are pleased to see a period push button radio fitted. No DAB here, just good old medium and long wave!

Getting behind the wheel of the Mk X is really rather special. The driver’s seat is vast and comfortable, though perhaps lacking in a little side support should you have the audacity to corner at high speed. The view out is imperious, that vast bonnet stretching out before you.

The column-mounted automatic gear selector is easy to use, and it is interesting to note that this location has made a comeback on many modern luxury cars. Slip it into drive, bury your right foot into the plush carpet and the Mk X will be off at a surprisingly brisk pace.

The only minor blemish on the interior’s otherwise near perfect copybook is a small area of damaged paint in the offside rear door aperture, visible in one of our photographs.

Underneath

We always include plenty of pictures of a car’s undersides and that is certainly the case here. Other than a little light surface rust to some of the components, it all looks fine to us with signs of plenty of protective underseal keeping corrosion nicely at bay.

There’s a Bell stainless steel exhaust fitted. Their name is world renown in the classic car market for producing the highest quality systems manufactured by their time served and highly skilled workforce.

Lift the bonnet and that powerful 4.2-litre engine is revealed in all its glory. There’s a lot to take in but all the signs of careful maintenance are there to see.

History Highlights

As far as our owner is aware, the Mk X has covered 136,000 miles during its life. The fact that is has only had three owners is quite unusual. None were in a hurry to part with this lovely car and we can certainly see why.

In amongst the extensive paperwork is a collection of invoices from the second owner’s time and from them you can see how well the car was maintained. Even when he was no longer able to drive it, a heated garage provided a comfortable billet for the next 29 years.

Our seller did more than just recommission the car, he comprehensively restored it and in our opinion the pictures do not do this car justice. Come and stand in front of it and the admire the level of detail, from the shiny chrome to the sumptuous leather.

The DVLA’s website shows just two MoT tests, the first commissioned by our seller soon after purchase in 2013. There were some failures and advisories which were dealt with, and the car was retested some months later and a pass certificate was issued with no comments.