2016-02-21 09:44:03 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 2/21/16
www.ebay.com/itm/Jaguar-Other-/161982184346
Current bid US $5,100 reserve not met 10 bids 5 days left in auction. Seller californiaclassix, 72k miles.

Sellers description:
The 1959 Jaguar MKI featured here is one of those rare birds. Utmost modern when introduced, it's equipped with power steering and new-for-1959 4-wheel disc brakes, a sensation at the time when even the contemporary Mercedes 300SL and Porsche 356 had drums on all four corners.

Built for cold and rainy England, Jaguar's long-stoke inline six cylinders are prone to overheating when driven in hot climates, more so in stop-and-go traffic.
American ingenuity to the rescue!

This British feline has received an American heart. A Chevrolet small block, topped off by a new Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and mated to a GM 350 transmission makes for a bulletproof combination. The engine is healthy as the proverbial ox, starts on the button, and runs smoothly without any oil leaks or ill behavior to report.

Jaguar's body is straight and healthy and looks just "right" with the factory steel wheels and dog-dish style hub caps.
Front tires are very good, rear tires are brand new.

The silvermetallic paint is older and quite presentable. Aside from a heat bubble on the bonnet and some isolated spots on one of the doors and near the rear bumper, there's nothing that destracts from its beautiful appearance.

Interior has been reupholstered in gray velours.

Check out the bottom of the door: no rust!

A highlight of every classic Jaguar is the burled walnut dashboard, and the Mark I's is quite stunning!

With the exception of the clock, which shows the correct time only twice a day, all of the beautiful SMITHS gauges work!
Below the dash, you'll see the original sliding shifter for the automatic transmission. Cool, huh?

Plush front seats allow comfy seating for two, three if needed, as there's no stick poking out of the floor pan.

Three more passengers can travel in style in the back quarters. A sports car for the family man, indeed!

The car comes with a clear California title, current California license plates, and the XKs Unlimited license plate frame shown.

All lights work as they should.

Trunk is healthy as well, with no spray can artistry evident to hide anything. Spare wheel well is perfect, corrosion and dent free. Spare (not shown) is matching.

A highlight is the Jag's healthy and rust free undercarriage. Note that the dual exhaust system has been retained.

So what's it like to drive this iconic Jaguar? We are about to find out.
Blue skies and temperatures in the low 70s on February 18the made for fabulous conditions to take the cat through its paces and snap some photos along the way.

Pull the choke lever out a bit, push in the somewhat hidden starter button, and the motor immediately fires and settles into a mellow idle. Put the gear selector lever into "D" and you're on your way.

Handling is much better than that found on many of the Jaguar's contemporaries. Back in its day, the Mark I set the benchmark for a gentleman's personal car that allowed spirited driving in utter comfort and style. Today, 56 years later, it still holds up very well in contemporary terms, so well, indeed, that it could serve as a stylish daily driver.

Although by no means a perfect car, much money and effort has been invested to turn this rare survivor into a car that's pleasant to live with. A California car much of its life, it has been spared the dreaded tin worm. With a straight and accident free body, bullet-proof drive train and sound mechanicals, it is destined to outlive most of the computerized cars of the new Millennium.