Fantasy Junction

Description

1963 Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 Automatic
s/n P221487BW, engine no. LC3615-8
British Racing Green with Suede Green Interior

Jaguar’s Mark 2 can be considered one of the earliest sport sedans. Its handsome styling and sparkling performance, particularly when properly equipped, demonstrated that smaller did not necessarily mean inferior. The Mark 1 was introduced in 1956 as a small sedan to expand Jaguar’s model line and met with reasonable but not outstanding success. The styling was reworked and the mechanical specification improved for 1959 and the new variant, called the Mark 2, which was not only more attractive and modern in appearance, but also proved to be extremely popular. The car was available in 2.4, 3.4, and 3.8 liter forms, with the 3.8 liter variant, essentially Jaguar’s largest engine in their smallest sedan, being a genuinely high performance car with excellent roadholding, braking, and straight line performance. The technical specification was impressive, including Jaguar’s lovely twin cam inline-6 and disc brakes all round. Indeed, the cars proved to be quite successful in saloon car racing, and for these reasons, Mark 2s are considerably more valuable and collectible than their bigger siblings of the same period, the Mark IX, Mark X, and 420G, despite the fact that all of those larger cars were considerably more costly when new.

This particular car is a structurally excellent matching-numbers 3.8 project that has been off the road for many years and is not currently running. It belonged to the same long term keeper from 1989 to 2014, a professor of law living in Berkeley, California. He purchased the car in 1989 in Point Reyes, California, and drove the car until approximately 1992, when he took it off the road due to cooling problems. Since then, the car sat indoors in dry storage and is now ready to be sympathetically recommissioned. There is a thick file of records from the 1980s and early 1990s showing the extensive care that the car received during that period. The car was previously registered to a six digit license plate, meaning that the car was probably sold new in California.

The car has an excellent body that is extremely solid, above and below. The body panels are extremely straight and solid, with great gaps and fit. The paintwork shows age and some superficial paint issues in places, but is presentable for a driver with patina. The chrome is intact, straight, and complete (other than the chrome trim strip in front of the leaper, which is missing), but shows some pitting and minor surface deterioration in places. The glass and lights are generally very good and the car is equipped with Lucas Fogranger fog lamps.

The interior is in good overall condition, with reupholstered leather front seats that are in excellent shape. The car is fitted with a lovely period wood-rimmed steering wheel. The wood and carpets are in very good condition. The rear seat is showing significant wear and deterioration since they were never redone. The headliner is in excellent shape, as are the switches and instruments. The plastic strip marking the switches is broken at one end.

The engine compartment is correct and unrestored in appearance. It is fairly clean and well-presented, with no untoward treatments or modifications. The factory air cleaner is in place as is the glass windscreen washer fluid jar. Both the cylinder head and the engine block match the chassis. The trunk is unrestored and in sound condition, but the mat is showing some age. The undercarriage is exceptionally solid and original, with no significant rust noted.

This car represents an excellent opportunity to acquire a structurally exemplary matching-numbers 3.8 liter Mark 2 that is ready to be put back on the road. Coming out of long term California ownership, the car has been carefully stored and is all the better for it, making for a relatively straightforward project for the Jaguar enthusiast. The car comes with a thick file of records, tool roll with some tools, and a very complete manual pouch that includes owner’s manual, dealer directory, maintenance voucher booklet, and fold out maintenance poster showing all lubrication points.

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