1964 Jaguar Mk2 3.4

Until 2015, this original righthand drive Jaguar Mk2 3.4 with the desirable manual 4-speed gearbox and overdrive had largely lived overseas. Resplendent in the original Sand metallic paint and beautifully trimmed with a red leather cabin, it was despatched to New Zealand 23rd January 1964.

Mileage and ownership were moderate [the vendor reports three previous owners] and care conscientious in NZ. Overseas bills are supplied in the Gallery that show maintenance and annual technical inspections were performed with receipts to 2014. From those inspection mileages we can see that this car, registered in NZ as DJW 841 had just tipped over 35,000 miles by July 2014. Imported back into the UK in March 2015, it displayed 35,296 miles for an MoT by September. Today the large Smiths 140 mph speedometer records just 36,769 miles; this despite visits with the current vendor in France who is happy to claim it probably has run 136,000 miles. Care has continued, for instance the Gallery shows a January 2017 handwritten bill that covers 2016 and 2017 work repairing rear suspension arms and overhauling both the braking hydraulics and handbrake.

Viewed in a Dorset village location, this Jaguar has such sparkling presence that it attracted plenty of local attention, yet it had just emerged from garage storage. It is believed it was repainted in New Zealand some seven years ago. The light golden paint caught the weak winter sun to good effect, set off by quality chrome and glittering wire wheels that are about 1 year old and shod with a healthy set of Vredestein 185HR 15 Sprint Classic Tyres. The steady thrum of the straight six running remarkably quietly from a cold start was a talking point. A prominent Jaguar Driver’s Club member, who viewed the car privately immediately prior to our visit, commented it was the quietest and smoothest XK motor he’d heard for a long while.

We examined paint, chrome and fittings as if it were our cash at stake. The chrome is outstanding, fat rear bumpers carrying those period DISC BRAKES warning badges that surround a red warning triangle. Also fit are shiny glass surrounds, taillights and front head and spot lamps. Admirable in a restrained, but authoritative, soundtrack are the twin tips of the stainless exhaust, emerging under bumper. Similarly the chromed petrol tank cap is sound and there is a useful, sturdy and unblemished tow hook.

On our inspection all of the door bottoms, bonnet and bootlid are in extremely good and solid condition – as befitting a car that has spent its life in a benign part of the southern hemisphere.

Externally the only criticisms centre on some paint micro blisters adjacent to the chrome strip that run along the top of the door skins. The boot catch is a bit sticky and that is a contributory reason the lid is not sitting perfectly flush-- and the bonnet could have a better final fit too. Door panel gaps are generally good, and the separate rear wheel spats to tyre gaps are tight, even for these distinctive period features.

The leather and wood capped interior delivers seductive attractions. This example has particular appeal through the red leathers employed for seating and interior door trims, which remain beautifully wood-capped examples of conscientious carpentry. A period radio, seat-back picnic fold out trays and large plastic, 2-spoke steering wheel all appear period correct.

Another outstanding feature of Jaguar cabins created more than half a century ago, are the clear black and white Smiths instrumentation and the lines of labelled switchgear, all well presented in this example. On a second look, the rear bench seat looks to be original with a gorgeous patina, but the fronts may well have been recovered as they are virtually unmarked and in genuinely superb condition.

Our nit-picking covers: passenger side front carpet, peeled back at the leading edge; a slack and worn leather gearstick gaitor; a few minor bits, like the kick plates, that could be smarter to match the rest of the interior. Similarly, the trailing edges of boot’s practical flooring should be refitted to hide the wiring beneath.

There are very slight blemishes to the driver’s door top capping, but overall within there is nothing that is remotely a deal breaker.

We were fortunate in having a full inspection pit and took full advantage of it to take the grubbier pictures. We could see that the vendor’s claim that “there appears to be no serious rust underneath and no sign of any welding,” was entirely credible. And please note that this is a rare and significant claim in the world of the Mk2, where rust repairs can be extensive and expensive. Some of that originality may be owed to that traditional British automotive habit of slight oil leaks, and such minor emissions may well have preserved this 3.4’s hull to a very acceptable degree.

We could also see that larger front disc brakes and calipers had been installed, along with a thicker anti roll bar. The sound rear leaf springs and live axle with those French-installed links were noted, along with an excellent example of stainless steel exhaust plumbing.

Lifting the bonnet and looking over the engine bay, you note the useful presence of retrofit electronic ignition. As with the interior there are detail quibbles that could be rectified with DIY exertion, including the light speckling evident on the alloy cam covers and some afterthought minor wiring.

However, the manners exhibited by the engine on start-up are outstanding enough to overlook the details. The vendor reported, “It drives very well with no issues to report, even after a trip from UK to Bordeaux.”

The Jaguar Heritage certificate, New Zealand bills, 2015-2017 MoT certificates and HM Revenue and Customs import clearance letter prior to recent UK registration are helpful. Honestly, we would have liked to have seen documentation as to who repainted the Jaguar and when, and we also suspect a very talented engine rebuild produced such rattle and smoke-free running at this vehicle age, yet there is no paperwork to support those significant milestones.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing, where you will find photos of the paperwork that is present, including a current V5C Keepers logbook.

There is no doubt that the 3.4 litre variants of the Mk2 saloon have been seriously overshadowed by the motorsport and criminal legends that surround the 3.8 flagship, but there is no doubt that they represent a more effective purchase in terms of cost and virtually the same performance. All that is especially relevant to this example, which appears to have benefitted superbly from its previous life in New Zealand. There appears to be no rot or serious rust anywhere, either in the chassis, or in those niggling corners of bodywork etc that so often afflicts cars left in the UK for a decade. This Mk2 seems extremely original, the car does not give the impression of having received a major restoration. It is a shame we cannot see the paperwork or history trail to prove it, but one must imagine it has always had careful owners, who probably have all had the benefit of a garage.

Additionally, we would say that the red leather interior, chromed components, extremely solid underside, sweet engine and repainted exterior in the factory colour were primary attractions, along with the outstanding condition of running components such as the new wire wheels, upgraded brakes and durable and properly-installed exhaust system. We think you will agree that this is an extremely good example that could be used regularly now, or further upgraded to best-of-breed if preferred.

Yes, there is detail trim and paint work that we would want to tackle, mainly because the rest of the car deserves it to produce an outstanding example of the breed. As it stands we think this charismatic Jaguar will sell for between £19,000 and £25,000, which would make it a wise buy for regular classic event attendance at a considerable saving over the prices paid for the 3.8 litre models.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen near Yeovil in Dorset; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.