2022-03-31 13:08:00 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 4/22
themarket.bonhams.com/us/listings/jaguar/mk2-38/0bb5c462-47a6-4d81-b1c6-1f224609 ...

Auction description:
Location: The Market HQ, Abingdon, United Kingdom
Seller Type: Private
Odometer Reading: 38000
Chassis Number: 235366DN
Engine: 3800
Gearbox: manual
Steering position: RHD
Color: Opalescent Blue
Interior: Blue leather
Estimated Price: £35,000 - £45,000
This is peak Mk2 Jag – the most powerful version of Jaguar’s iconic XK straight six twin cam, the 3.8-litre, coupled to a manual gearbox with overdrive. It doesn’t get any better.

Not only that, this car is currently owned by the former chairman of the Jaguar Owners Club UK, so its providence cup overfloweth. The owner says:

‘This is an original UK car with matching numbers. The opalescent mid-blue paintwork was applied during a bare metal respray. The blue leather interior has all been replaced using top quality parts from Aldridge Trimming. All the chrome has been redone, as has all the interior woodwork.

‘The engine and carburettors were rebuilt by VSE, and the all-synchro gearbox has also been totally rebuilt. The rear suspension has a Vicarage coil spring conversion kit fitted. The brakes are Coopercraft.

‘As you can see, there are Coombes style arches on the car, with wire wheels. The car even has its original radio fitted. It has good history, a Heritage Certificate from Jaguar and the original green log book.

The bodywork and underside are good, and it’s a great car to drive, with no pre-ignition from the engine.’

On the Outside

This car has Coombs style arches, which add an aggressive edge to the classic styling. Former racing driver and team boss John Coombs owned a Jaguar dealership in Guilford, Surrey, and supplied brand new Mk2 Jags with modifications proven by him and his team on the race track. These included lipped arches to accommodate wider wheels and tyres, for improved grip.

The opalescent paintwork gleams in the spring sunshine and is quite dazzling. The only slight fault to the exterior we could see is a slight kink in the windscreen trim at the top of the screen on the driver’s side.

The discrete ‘Disc Brakes’ badge on the rear bumper was quite likely the last thing Morris Minor owners read before they rear-ended a Mk2 Jag – few cars had stopping power like this back in 1967.

Wales based Jaguar engine specialist VSE had an excellent reputation for their rebuilt XK engines, so it’s no surprise that this one runs so sweetly. XK engine work requires specialist skill and experience, and VSE had it in bucketfuls – the firm sadly closed a few years ago after the owner retired.

Enamel is peeling off the twin exhaust manifolds, which always happens on Jag XK engines as the expansion and contraction of the cast iron takes its toll on the finish.

You can just about pick out the Coopercraft front brake calipers through the gleaming spokes of the unmarked chrome wire wheels.

On the Inside

There are so many gorgeous design touches in here it’s hard to know where to start, and the interior is in is stunning condition – the seat leather looks new.

There are the beautifully executed round interior lights set into the corners of the roof’, complimented by the gracefully curving line of the highly polished walnut trim that describes the curve of the rear window.

And all the interior wooden trim is so highly figured and polished that it almost shimmies in front of you – it’s been refinished to a very high standard indeed.

The word ‘Overdrive’ is mounted in its own museum style display case on the top of the steering column, accompanied by a little red light that illuminates when it’s engaged.

Then there’s the large knurled knob behind the Bakelite steering wheel that allows you to adjust its reach – how many cars had that in 1967?

The aeroplane-inspired row of toggle switches on the dash centre panel, below the oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel and voltage gauge – and in the middle a large chrome rotary switch to control the lights

There are neat picnic trays set into the front seat backs, J monikers on the pedal rubbers (that would sadly morph into BL logos by the time the XJ6 went on sale).

Look at the gorgeous Art Deco inspired mechanisms that open the rear quarterlights – all that design on something that just cracks a window open for you.

Underneath

In the boot we find a hyde/copper hammer and wooden tool for removing the wheel spinners on the centre lock wire wheels, and there’s a full tool kit including the original spec grease gun, and a single, spare spark plug.

The stainless steel exhaust system looks totally sound, and sounds totally wonderful. In general the underneath looks like that of a car that hasn’t seen a wet road in a long time.

The best thing under here, apart from the lack of any rust, is the Vicarage coil spring conversion kit. This replaces the car’s original leaf springs, which were asked to not only spring the car, but locate the axle too.

The coil spring kit uses trailing arms to properly locate the axle, eliminating any side movement in the process and giving much more sure footed handling, while the modern coil-over damper units provide a far more supple ride than the old cart springs could ever manage. Altogether, this is one of the best upgrades you can do to a Mk2 Jag.

History Highlights

This Mk2 comes with its original handbook and a stack of MoTs going right back to 1972.

There’s also a large selection of receipts for parts amounting to nearly £7000.

The original VSE engine test certificate is also present, as is a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Production Record Trace certificate, stating the car was built on August 8 1967.