1958 Jaguar MK1 3.8

This Mk1 started life as a 2.4-litre car – the cars weren’t known as Mk1s when current, merely either Jaguar 2.4-litre or Jaguar 3.4-litre. It’s been rebuilt with a fast road spec E-Type 3.8-litre XK engine, and is an homage to period racers as campaigned by legends such as Sir Stirling Moss.

Incredibly, the 1958 car it’s based on had survived with a shell that’s has never seen a welder’s torch, so it really is an astonishingly accurate replica. The specification includes the following:

• Restored in the last 3 years (all mechanicals, body, paint, chrome)
• E Type 3.8 engine fast road/race from lightweight E-type, bought from CMC Bridgnorth
• Fast spec with many parts from Rob Beere
• Early R number engine (was swapped from dry sump to wet sump in order to fit in the MKl engine bay
• Rob Beere High Capacity Oil Pump
• Rob Beere Race Spec High Output small alternator and pulley system
• Aluminium water pump, high capacity
• Aluminium radiator
• Rob Beere Oil Filter system with Oil Cooler
• E type inlet manifold with 3 weber carbs
• Classic Fabs Exhaust manifold and Exhaust system (Wonderful sound)
• Five speed gearbox with quick shift system/ New Clutch and Lightweight flywheel
• Mechanical oil pressure gauge
• Additional gauges (used original Smiths from Ford GT40). Originals all in place
• Electronic DCE Race power steering (Manual or auto) adjustable
• Quick Release steering boss and wood Moto-Lita wheel (special MKl growler boss insert, spigot mount and adjustable)
• MK2 front suspension completely refurbished and fitted
• New heavy duty springs
• Adjustable Gaz shocks front and rear
• Fosseway ventilated upgraded brake discs and callipers (four pot front)
• New Propshaft
• Wilkinsons upgraded rear brakes – four pot
• Mk2 rear axle with new half shafts, bearings, etc
• Differential rebuilt by Universal Transmissions
• Fully Adjustable Race pedal box with three master cylinders (adjustable front to rear brake balancing)
• Complete rewire with Autosparks loom and modern new fuse box
• LED front headlights
• Lucas yellow spot and fog lights
• Lightweight Ridgard front seats (the last pair Bob made before his death). Red leather interior
• External Le Mans style QR fuel filler
• New aluminium Fuel Tank with new high capacity fuel pump
• New MWS wire wheels (competition style, painted)
• New Pirelli CN12 tyres (215 front, 225 rear)
• New carpets interior/ full Oynamat
• New Sparco seat belts
• Upgraded windscreen wiper unit
• Mkl quick ratio steering box
• Uprated anti roll bar
• Comes with original 2.4 Engine (Running)
• Comes with original gearbox
• Comes with original front seats
• Car comes with UK V5 and green buff log book
• Stored in a dry garage with constant dehumidifier

The pale grey paintwork on this car is better than any period racer’s would have been by a long chalk. The deep shine and perfect panel gaps aren’t things that would have been high of the list of a motorsport hero back in the 1950s, but they’re very welcome all the same.

The look is spot on too, from the raised edge of the rear of the bonnet to allow extra airflow through the engine bay, to the leather strap holding the front of the panel securely, the Mk1 looks every inch the 1950s race car. The blocks that raise the bonnet - whether for road or event use - are not integral to the engine staying cool as the car has a custom-built cold box. The seller states 'you could get up to limits on a track day with multiple use, but it has never got hot enough really to really require them. If it were to be track raced in historic events, then it may benefit from louvres, but the blocks seem to be a halfway house for what it was originally intended to do. They can be removed and you maintain a wolf in sheep's clothing look and don’t necessarily need to take the bonnet from original.'

One aspect it doesn’t have is the famously narrow rear track of the original cars though. Jaguar simply couldn’t find an off the shelf axle of the perfect width to match the new car’s independent front suspension, so had to settle for a slightly narrower part, which gave the original cars a slightly odd look from the rear. This car has a later Mk2 axle and fills its wheel arches very well as a result.

It may be a fast road/race car, but it’s still a Jaguar sir, so leather and walnut are mandatory. However, those front Ridgard bucket seats are rather more supportive than the Jag originals, although they also come with the car.

There’s a cluster of extra period gauges on the panel below the dash, including a second rev counter with it's redline 1000rpm higher than the standard dash mounted version. You can glance at it as you reach for the beautifully crafted gearstick, which sprouts from the transmission tunnel and controls the ratios in the five speed gearbox.

And you can take the whole family racing of you like, as the original rear seats are still in place, in lovely condition too.

The 3.8-litre E-Type spec fast rod tuned engine sits snugly in the Mk1’s extremely nicely presented engine bay, and reminds us that engines used to be something to proudly show people, rather than things manufacturers now hide under sheets of plastic.

Three snarling 48 DCOE sidedraught Weber carbs sit where rather more genteel SUs once lived, accompanied on the other side of the cylinder head by a snaking free flow exhaust manifold, that you could quite easily hang on your living room wall, such is it's style.

The car’s underside is as you’d expect, given its provenance, no evidence of any welding, just original 1959 Jaguar sheet steel, surrounded by all those tuning goodies.

This car has had just three registered owners during its 63 year life, and it comes with the original green Log book and original PDP 4 registration number. The owner says:

‘This is a serious events car, mild mannered for the road but extremely quick when you wake it up. These were raced by the likes of Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn back in the day (Mike actually came to his end in one on the A3 near Guildford).

‘The cars had tuned 3.4-litre engines back then. This has an early R series 3.8 proven track engine, toned down a little. The car is gorgeous and was built from a time warp car which had an untouched shell and underside. We took the car in as a part exchange from the owner for an E-Type V12 Roadster. You will see on the log book it is listed as a one owner, which it was prior to conversion.

‘The car was a totally solid survivor – a running, driving car. The original engine and front seats are available to go with the car and we would deliver it anywhere UK mainland free of charge. The owner built the car to do track days, road rallies and hill climb events and shows. He got a pretty serious illness and had to abandon his plans for motorsport.

‘If you were to start this car from a reasonable donor this would be 150K job plus the car purchase. The mechanical parts upgrade costs were 45K alone! It was built in homage to the first MK1 Jaguars which were built for racing.

‘I believe the number plate itself is valuable – PDP 4, or even POP 4 to read. This is the original number and the green log book confirms this.’

It comes with the original green Logbook and original PDP4 registration This is a serious events car, mild mannered for the road but extremely quick when you wake it up. These were raced by the likes of Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn back in the day. They were tuned 3.4 engines back then. This has an early R series 3.8 proven track engine, toned down a little. The car is gorgeous and was built from a time warp car which had an untouched shell and under side.

Although this car looks every inch the period racer, and you could certainly enter it in competition if you so desired, you could also take it to the local pub on a sunny Sunday lunchtime, as the engine is flexible enough to be perfectly at home on the road as well as the track.

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £45,000 - £65,000 in auction.

There’s a vast amount of time and money on this car, and at this guide price it represents something of a bargain. Gentleman, start your engines…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.