1962 Jaguar Mk2 3.4 M/OD

The car has a minor clutch issue, vendor has agreed to have it repaired immediately following sale at his expense

• Finished in Opalescent Blue with French Blue hide and looks fabulous
• Fitted with Coombs-style arches, louvred bonnet, painted wires and S/S exhaust
• Electronic ignition, high torque starter, sports manifold, handling kit, poly-bushed
• Original reg number. Comprehensive history file, Heritage Certificate, numerous invoices, photographs of the rebuild and spare keys
• One of the nicest Mk2s we have seen for a long time
• Your earliest inspection is encouraged and welcomed

The 2.4 saloon of 1955 had been a major step for Jaguar, marking as it did the change from a coachbuilt chassis to one of unitary construction; it was a necessary move, however, Jaguar being aware there was a strong market for a more compact saloon than the big Mk IX. Powered by a 2,482cc version of the superb twin-cam straight-six XK engine first seen in the XK120, the 2.4 offered luxury, performance and value for money. Using coil spring/wishbone front and semi-elliptic spring rear suspension, it possessed fine road manners and proved a great success, both on and off the track, particularly when the Mk1, as it subsequently became known, became available with the 3.4-litre engine in February 1957.

It was in October 1959 that the Mk 2 version appeared, making a good car even better. Similar in appearance but with a much larger glass area, it boasted a wider rear track to improve roadholding together with minor front suspension changes to reduce body roll and all-round disc rather than drum brakes. Engine options included the 120bhp 2.4-litre, the 210bhp 3.4-litre and, for the first time the 220bhp 3,781cc unit of the Mk IX.

Having enjoyed considerable success as a racing driver, most notably in Formula 1, John Coombs retired from racing to concentrate on running his Guildford-based Jaguar dealership. He race-prepared cars for himself and other drivers gaining particular success with Jaguar Mk 2 saloons, engineering considerably faster and more reliable cars than the standard examples.

Pleasingly still sporting its original registration number, and looking absolutely delightful, '1856 RH' is finished in Opalescent Blue with French Blue Hide and sits on black-painted painted wire wheels with 3-eared spinners. It's a matching-numbers, manual box with overdrive car and has just benefitted from a total ground-up restoration to the very highest of standards. It's been professionally presented to reflect the influence that John Coombs had on the Mk 2 market back in the day and upgraded during the process to enhance the driving experience wherever possible. Coombs-style rear arches have been employed in conjunction with a louvred bonnet (note the correct amount of louvres stamped) to aesthetically lift the car, whilst mechanically the detailed engine bay, complete with a Coombs of Guildford plaque secreted away, houses electronic ignition, a high torque starter, sports manifold and a Coombs-style, Bell Stainless Steel Exhaust. The underside of the vehicle is also gleaming and fully detailed, set off by a Harvey Bailey Handling Kit and Poly-bushed suspension.

Internally the Reuter reclining seats have been fully retrimmed in leather together with the door cards, new carpets and replacement headlining, as well as newly veneered woodwork and a period-style wood-rimmed steering wheel for a sportier feel from the discreetly fitted electronic power assisted steering.

Accompanied by a comprehensive history file, its Heritage Certificate, numerous invoices, photographs of the rebuild and spare keys, this stunning Mk 2 is a testament to the craftsmen that have given this particular Jaguar a new lease of life. Now ready to be enjoyed once again, out on the open road and chatting to fellow enthusiasts about that special Coombs Jaguar look. I don't think for one minute that John Coombs, whilst popping a few louvres into the bonnet of his Mk2 to keep it a bit cooler, would have imagined that 60 years later, enthusiasts are talking about his creation in hushed tones.