Fantasy Junction

Description

1963 Jaguar Mark 2
s/n P222865DNW, engine no. LC6827-9
Old English White with Tan Leather Interior

While Jaguar captured headlines and hearts with their extraordinarily competent sports and racing car offerings in the 1950s, their bread and butter was always saloon cars. The iconic “grace, space, and pace” tagline was genuinely appropriate. Not only were their sedans elegant and luxurious, they featured Jaguar’s innovative twin-cam engine, disc brakes, and genuinely world class suspension engineering that incorporated lessons from winning a continuous stream of world sports car championships. Jaguar took this philosophy further by introducing what is arguably one of the world’s first sports sedans. Initially called the 2.4 Litre and 3.4 Litre, the model was retroactively referred to as the Mark 1 when the Mark 2 emerged in 1959. Both cars were smaller than the Mark VII, Mark VIII, and Mark IX full size sedans then available, yet they were available with the largest XK engines then produced: the 3.4 liter and later the 3.8. This “big motor in a small car” philosophy made the Mark 1 and 2 genuinely high performance cars of any type, let alone a sedan, and the cars were very successful in motorsport, winning rallies and touring car championships driven by famed drivers like Mike Hawthorn, Roy Salvadori, and Stirling Moss.

In many ways, this particular three-owner lifelong California car is the holy grail of Mark 2s. Not only is it a black-plate California car with original purchase invoice, it is also a matching-numbers genuine 3.8 liter 4-speed car with factory overdrive. In short, no more desirable Mark 2 configuration exists. According to the included Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate, this car left hand drive car was completed May 24, 1963 and supplied to British Cars of Burlingame, California, who sold the car to its first owner, Dr. R.L. Sells of Hillsborough, who traded in his 1955 Buick for the car, receiving $200 for it on trade toward the $4,177 cost of his new Jaguar. Dr Sells owned the car for over 25 years, driving it throughout Northern California until selling it to Mr. John Splittorf on November 18, 1989.

Mr. Splittorf immediately embarked on a comprehensive two year restoration with the intent of scoring the highest possible points with his concours level Mark 2. Included in the restoration was a color change from golden sand to old English white. On November 11, 1991 at the Jaguar Concours in Tucson, Arizona, this car scored first place with 99.67 points, beating out eight other cars in a field that included an XK-140, E-Types, and other top competitors. Also in 1991, the car would go on to place as the 9th best Jaguar in North America as well as win at the Palo Alto Concours. Copious records and documentation since new attest to the mechanical and cosmetic restoration performed on the car in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, when the restoration was completed, it is understood that the odometer was set back to zero. In the ensuing 27 years, 14,500 miles have accumulated as shown today. It is estimated that the miles at the time of restoration were approximately 79,000, based on recollections from previous owners. Stacks of records, numerous California registration slips, photographs of the restoration work, bills of sale for transfer of ownership, and the original Burlingame dealer invoice further attest to the unbroken chain of three California owners and long term care this fine Mark 2 has received. The current owner has successfully completed two Going to the Sun rallies with this car, electing to do so in order to have his wife and son join him.

Today, this highly desirable 3.8 Liter 4-speed overdrive Mark 2 presents a visually captivating factory original appearance that reflects the quality of its award-winning restoration that rated it as one of the top ten of all Jaguars in its class judged nationally. Still retaining a very nice coat of glossy paint, the finish overall is now showing small signs of paint shrink in selected areas around the doors and seams, minor touch up on opening panels, and a few chips here and there. In all, the paint is solid and quite satisfying for driving and casual showing. The body is exceptionally straight and undisturbed with good panel fit and smooth operation opening and closing all doors, hood, and trunk. The chrome is showing some signs of age but still remains very nice in most areas, with light hazing and minor polish marks, but otherwise quite nice overall. The exterior trim, lenses, and glass are all excellent, including the handsome pair Lucas Fogranger fog lamps placed cleverly inside the former small recessed grille areas. The elegant presentation of the car is further set off by the beautifully chrome plated wheels and dual ear knockoffs shod with a handsome set of wide white wall tires.

The interior is excellent overall, recalling the perfection of nearly 100 points, now with the leather seating displaying only mild patina, remaining supple, evenly finished, and very clean. Remarkably well preserved since the show days, the carpeting is in very nice condition as are the floor mats, door panels, and headliner. The fabric wrapped beading, doorjambs, chrome finished window latches, and other delightful details still remain surprisingly fresh. The wood throughout the car is in nice with some mellowing when examined closely and a warm satin finish. The instruments and switches are excellent throughout, correct in appearance, with the entire dashboard presenting a cohesive original finish, with the exception of a high quality radio and cassette player installed during the restoration. The interior features correct textures with properly tailored corners, edges and seams. The charming wooden dropdown picnic trays behind the front seats are nicely covered in matching leather, displaying their serving side with handsome wood lacquered finishes. Front and rear tan fabric seatbelts have been added, all finished off with desirable wood rimmed Derrington steering wheel.

The engine compartment is clean and attractive, having been finished to the highest standards at the time of the award winning restoration. The finishes have mellowed over time, with a few painted components in need of freshening, and some soiling from road use in the deeper recesses of the engine compartment. The overall results under the hood feature correctly polished aluminum engine components, proper fasteners and hardware, correct hoses, proper induction plenum, and a correctly finished stock dual snorkel air cleaner and housing. Both the head and the engine numbers match, making this a correct 3.8 liter saloon from the factory. During the restoration, the gearbox was replaced with a very desirable all synchromesh unit from a 4.2 liter car, which certainly makes for much more enjoyable driving, particularly on the highway with the functional overdrive.

The trunk is stock in appearance with nice paint to the metal components and correctly Ambla upholstery. The jack is in place, and an original tool set is present in a special compartment inside the full sized spare wire wheel. The undercarriage is exceptionally solid, reflecting the car’s lifelong California ownership.

Driving this car, one is reminded of the excellence and ride comfort offered in a properly prepared Jaguar saloon. The engine is well tuned and exhibits strong pull benefiting from the 4-speed manual all-synchro transmission. Progress is genuinely swift and the car must have been an absolute revelation when new because of its extraordinary combination of performance and civility. The car accelerates smoothly and pulls strong in all gears with excellent road manners at high speeds and, when eased into overdrive, invites smooth highway cruising while the engine leisurely revs. The brakes have very good feel in keeping with vintage cars of this era, with disc brake all around, a remarkable achievement on any car of this period, let alone a saloon. The car comes with an astonishing stack of restoration records, notebooks, original literature and owners manual, original sales invoice, years of registration papers, warranty booklet, a correct jack, complete tool kit with factory tools, Jaguar spare parts catalog, Jaguar service manual, and other contemporary service literature.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a wonderful 3.8 Liter Mark 2 that was restored to show-winning condition and remains very crisp. This authentic matching numbers 4-speed overdrive saloon offers wonderfully settled cosmetic and mechanical details performed to a high standard. Event proven and impressively fuss-free to own for its current owner of over twenty years, this car is poised to deliver miles and miles of pleasurable driving, vintage charm, and luxury appointments.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608