1966 Jaguar MK II 3.4

This Jaguar MK 2 3.4, with the desirable manual gearbox and overdrive but without power steering, was built in March 1966 and sold to a Mr Prisk of Camborne in Cornwall through Henlys of London the following month.

The car appears to have remained in deepest Cornwall, staying within 5 miles of Mr Prisk up to its third owner who kept the car from 1992 until around 2011, by which time it had been off the road for several years.

Our vendor, the car’s 4th registered owner, bought the car in 2013 with two objectives in mind. Firstly, he wanted a stylish classic car that he could take his elderly parents out and about in, and second he wanted a car that he could just get in and go without having to spend hours preparing for every journey.

Consequently, he poured thousands of pounds into the car to make it a more usable everyday car, upgrading things where necessary, such as the brakes, ignition and electrics but also retaining as much originality as possible to give his parents that nostalgic ride.

And that’s exactly what he did - see the History Highlights for more details - he had such confidence in the completed car that he took his family - including his mother - to Ireland and back in it and it didn’t let him down at all. So the 130 mile to drop it off at our HQ for the sale last week was just a short run for the car.

With his parents now having passed, the MK 2’s job is done and it’s time for him to create another usable, everyday classic - out of a Jaguar E-type!

The MK 2’s exterior is finished in the car’s original colour of Golden Sand, a very pale gold colour that catches the light and flatters the iconic curves of the Jaguar. Aside from a few tiny but unavoidable stone chips up front, a small wrinkle on the edge of the bonnet and some crackling down the offside A-pillar gutter, the paintwork appears in very good condition with no major flaws or blemishes.

There are no signs of any damage to the bodywork either and the panels seem to fit and align well. The chrome brightwork is indeed bright and undamaged with no obvious discoloration or pitting.

The number plates may well be original to the car, as the lettering especially at the rear looks to have lost much of its silver finish. They could easily have been replaced with classic look replacements but full marks to someone for keeping the old ones.

Probably supplied originally with steel wheels and deeper rear spats, the car was refitted with 15-inch wire wheels and matching Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres in 2013. The wires and tyres all appear in good order. This change of wheel also prompted the fitting of narrower “Coombs” rear spats.

The interior of the Jaguar looks largely original. It is upholstered in a Tan or possibly Cinnamon coloured leather with vinyl door cards which are surely more recent replacements given their brighter almost orange coloration.

The seats front and back are gorgeously patinated with the creasing and light wear of use and age, but don’t appear to have been damaged.

In terms of hard landscaping, there are copious amounts of walnut across the dash top, instrument panel, door tops and window frames and whilst most of it carries a few knocks and scratches as you’d expect, it still has a lovely glow to the finish. More wood can be seen around the replacement Moto Lita steering wheel.

A later JVC CD radio was fitted in around 2014, with Vibe speakers either side of the centre console, and a modern alarm system was installed the year before.

Some of the beige coloured carpets and overmats are recent replacements but there are still sections of what could be the original floor coverings evident in places. Up above, the mottled brown union cloth headlining has a light patination across most of the roof but is progressively more discoloured towards the rear.

Overall, the interior is a charming blend of the characterful original upholstery with newer additions and is about what you expect a classic car to feel and smell like inside.

The engine bay is clean and tidy, with signs of recent renewal and maintenance. The large twin-intake “Coopers Cleaner” air box rather dominates, partially obscuring the beautiful XK engine, but all looks to be in good order and judging by the way it runs, it has clearly been looked after in recent ownership and nicely fettled. The surrounds and the bonnet lid itself appear clean and in good condition with just a few touches of surface rust.

Underneath the car, the chassis rails and cross-members look pretty straight and solid and the majority of the fixed structures and surfaces have a good coating of Waxoyl, with just the odd patch of surface rust beginning to bloom. What looks like a stainless exhaust is in good condition and the fuel tank at the rear looks new too.

The inside of the boot space has a blue vinyl liner covering the metal floor panels which show a few surface rust patches. Under the removable circular panel is the spare wheel with the moulded tool tray nestled inside the rim. The tools are a little rusty but the kit appears to be remarkably complete and original. The jack and wheel brace are attached to the rear bulkhead and boot roof respectively and a mallet is also provided to knock off the spinners. The boot lid itself is in good condition with just a very light surface rust in places.

The Jaguar has a current MOT valid until May 2022, which it passed with no advisories - just as it did the previous two years. Despite being exempt as an historic vehicle, we like it when owners still seek an independent opinion as to their car’s roadworthiness. The online MOT history records the car’s odometer clocking over 100,000 from 2014-15. The current displayed mileage of 10,087 is therefore 110,087 and eminently plausible given its low ownership and time off road.

The car’s original Periodic Maintenance Vouchers booklet is still present and it records its early service history starting with a check at 521 miles by Mayne’s Garage of Redruth - who looked after the car until at least the mid-70s and are amazingly still trading from the same premises today.

Other period documents include the Jaguar Sales & Service directory and owner’s handbook - all held in what could be their original vinyl pouch.

There are online records and paper copies of MOTs from 2011 onwards as well as paper copies sporadically from 1974 up to 2001. It is probable therefore that the car spent most of the noughties in storage off the road.

Following purchase by the current owner in 2013, the car was given a partial restoration and recommissioning at XJ Restorations and then Gerald Dale Motorsport. This work included: ball joints, bushes and gaiters, water pump, brake lines, bigger disks and master cylinder, new adjustable shocks, seatbelts, wires and tyres, Coombs-style spats/rear arches, wood-rimmed steering wheel, electronic ignition, distributor, clutch, alarm, overdrive repair, rebushing of steering linkages, alternator and belts, new fog lamps, retuning.

Numerous invoices document the work done and parts bought during the car’s recommissioning around 2013, CD player installation, refurbishment of the head and re-tune in 2016 and body repairs (front wings, rear arches, spats and jacking points) in 2019, during which it was also fully serviced, Waxoyled and all four wings repainted.

The car comes with two keys and alarm / immobiliser fobs.

The MK 2 starts, drives and stops as it should - the gearbox is smooth and the overdrive works well in 4th. The steering is sharp and everything is very tight with no rattles and the brakes are reassuring. Our vendor drove the car to The Market HQ in Oxfordshire all the way from East Sussex, so it clearly is a capable and reliable motor car.

MK 2 Jaguars are always popular, thanks in part to their starring roles in TV and film but also due to their power and usability. We think that this very nice and very usable example with recent mechanical work and some sensible upgrades will sell for between £35,000 and £38,000.

We’re big fans of the MK 2 here in the office and having handled a few we can confirm that they’re every bit as much fun as you’d hope. Thanks to the public’s fondness for them, they also turn heads and cause other drivers to fall over themselves to let you out at junctions.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.