1964 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 MOD

‘22 HCR’ – and yes, the personalised registration number will be staying with the car – is a Jaguar Mk2 fitted with the desirable 3.8-litre engine along with the equally desirable manual-plus-overdrive gearbox.

The registered keeper’s father imported it from South Africa in around 2014 and it passed to him after his death, and the combination of African sun and little use since being repatriated has preserved it very nicely indeed.

Recently mechanically recommissioned with a nigh-on five-figure invoice, it also benefits from a power-steering conversion and electronic ignition.

No wonder our man came back from his test drive with a big grin: “Everything works and it drives well” he told us before scurrying off to watch Tom Hardy in Legend. Again.

Prime Ministers and royalty have long favoured dark blue, and this Mk2 shows why; regal, understated, and impossibly elegant, it allows the Jaguar’s lines to shine while retaining enough of a presence to be a conversation starter all by itself.

It helps that it is as clean and straight as it is; with a helluva lustre to the dink-free panels, this is a car that would shine, quite literally, in any company.

The extensive chrome trim works especially well against the dark blue coachwork, not least because it is largely free of serious pitting, tarnishing, rust, and other damage, whether age- or driver-induced.

A car like this doesn’t need huge alloy wheels, either. In fact, it doesn’t need alloy wheels at all, just a set of steel wheels with good chrome embellishment and body-coloured paint.

(We also have to say that seeing steel wheels instead of the chromed wire ones everything used to fit makes a refreshing change; not for nothing does #steeliesforthewin trend when we use it.)

They are, of course, fitted with a matching set of excellent tyres, specifically 185/80R15 Michelin XVS. All have good tread on them but as they date from 2014 you may like to factor in the cost of replacing them.

Nonetheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The light lenses are all in good shape, including the Lucas driving lamps that contribute so much to the Mk2’s imposing presence. This one has also retained its Lucas rear lamps rather than the increasingly common aftermarket replacements, and the rear numberplate light remains a work of art.

Pressed aluminium numberplates punch above their weight in terms of the impact they have too, while the Leaper on the bonnet is in an uncommonly good condition.

Of course, no car is perfect, and we found a few small stonechips on the front, tarnished chrome on the offside rear door handle and nearside B-pillar, and a small rust blister under the offside rear window. The paint finish on the offside rear wheel spat and the offside rear door isn’t to the same high standard as the rest, so a machine-polish might be in order to bring it all up to the same quality.

That’s it though, which is remarkable.

As is the condition of the cabin; the driver’s seat might show a little age-related wear – and the same sun that’s preserved the bodywork has dried out the tan leather to a certain extent – but that’s about all there is to complain about because everything else is in good order AND works exactly as it should.

Even the walnut veneer, which often suffers from sun damage to an even greater extent than the hide trim, is shiny and free of peeling lacquer and chipped edges.

The stitched headlining, another potential weak area, is also taut, clean, and free of damage, and the dark blue carpets are in an excellent condition with no fraying or obvious wear.

Even the smaller details, like the working lights in the C-pillars, stack up.

The iconic rows of toggle switches and minor instruments in the centre of the dashboard are in fine fettle, as are the main instruments that sit behind a (very good and probably the original) steering wheel.

Other nice touches include a Lucas rearview mirror, sound insulation under the carpets, a key for the glovebox, Jaguar pedal rubbers, and some very nice chrome fittings.

The boot is as well trimmed as the cabin with a black carpet bound with blue edging, a solid and nicely painted floor, and a full-size spare wheel fitted with a good tyre in the wheel well.

If it were ours we’d be tempted to have the leather professionally cleaned and fed and, perhaps, have the base of the driver’s seat attended to to remove the minor sagging. That’s it though.

Our man’s test drive went well, and he reports that it drives as it should when up to temperature and that everything appears to work, two reasons for his lack of Monday-morning blues – but then there are worse ways to start the working week than behind the wheel of one of the most revered cars of the 20th century, eh?

But then it has been treated well including a new head gasket and associated gubbins as well as a suspension, steering, and brake refresh from Maidstone Sports Cars in June 2023 at a cost of more than £9,500.

The engine bay is as neat and clean and unflashy as the rest of the car; whereas some people seem to find the need to bling things up with chrome rocker covers and silicone hoses, this one is finished to an original standard, which is entirely in keeping with the quiet, understated look of everything else.

The underside is protected by underseal, and it presents well. The exhaust system has nothing more than a thin veneer of rust on it, and there are plenty of new and shiny fasteners.

While there isn’t a current MoT certificate to give us an up-to-date assessment of its condition, the last one only expired in June 2024 and there hasn’t been a single mention of rust or structural corrosion since its UK record begins in 2014.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar markers for being an imported car and for having no tax.

The history file also contains a year-old condition report from East Kent Classic Cars from January last year that triggered a bill for £1,687, invoices for £6,946 and £2,671 from Maidstone Sports Cars in June 2023, and a £776-bill for a new pump for the power-steering conversion dated April 2025.

The Jaguar Mk2 is a bona fide classic and never more so than when fitted with the top-of-the-range 3.8-litre engine and the manual-plus-overdrive gearbox.

Add subtle and beautifully conserved dark blue coachwork, a beautiful interior, and significant recent expenditure with all the right people on all the right bits and you’ve got a compelling proposition on your hands.

Plus, of course, the treasured registration number of ’22 HCR’.

We’re big fans of the Jaguar Mk2 and having run a few over the years can confirm they’re every bit as much of a hooligan’s car as you’d hope; allied to the public’s fondness for them, running one can be an absolute joy as other drivers will be falling over themselves to let you out of junctions and small children will give you cheery waves as you pass.

All of which makes our estimate of between £15,000 and £18,000 seem very reasonable – and given their enduring popularity, the overall cost of running one for a while might be even less than you think.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.