1963 Jaguar Mk2 3.8-Litre Saloon

For many, the definitive Jaguar sports saloon, the Mk2, was introduced in October 1959. A peerless blend of elegance and muscularity, its sleek lines clothed an evolution of the Coventry marque's first monocoque design. Powered by derivatives of the same XK DOHC straight-six engine that had swept Jaguar to five Le Mans victories, the Mk2 was quick to dominate contemporary saloon car racing. Equipped with coil-and-wishbone independent front suspension, a leaf-sprung Salisbury rear axle and servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, the range-topping 3.8 boasted nearly seven times the horsepower of a Mini 850 and a 126mph top speed! Blessed with one of the all-time great automotive interiors, its stylish instrumentation, rich wood veneers and sumptuous leather upholstery all conspired to cosset and cocoon its lucky occupants.

However, despite its undoubted cachet and elegant lines, the Mk2's design is over 60 years old and certain mechanical aspects are a little 'agricultural'. For years now there have been owners who, whilst enjoying their classic Jaguar saloons, have decided to upgrade their cars and companies like Beacham and Vicarage have arrived to help owners restore, update and even re-imagine their cars.

The fabulous 1963 3.8 on offer here has been through the hands of Noel De Block, Classic Car Service in Belgium, having been commissioned by an Irish client to be finished to his particular specification. Totally rebuilt from a bare shell, the Jaguar is now finished in Opalescent British Racing Green with Biscuit trim and has been extensively upgraded. An extensive list of these bespoke enhancements is available from our consignor. The 3.8-litre XK unit has been fully rebuilt with a heavy-duty crank - tuftrided and balanced, wide blade conrods, Series 3 XJ head with big valves suitable for unleaded, Kent J2 cams, stainless tubular manifolds and sports exhaust all mated to a Getrag 5-speed manual gearbox with modified running gear all built by Ron Beaty of Forward Engineering fame, providing the power and flexibility required to cope with modern traffic. Further upgrades includes rack and pinion power-assisted steering, an uprated braking system, electronic ignition, an alternator, oil cooler, enhanced cooling with a viscous fan and an enlarged radiator, and a limited-slip differential. The classic Mk2 interior has benefitted from electrically operated heated seats, an electric sunroof, central locking, tinted windows, superbly restored veneers, a full retrim in Connolly leather to an exceptional standard, a Moto-Lita wood-rim wheel, a Sony Jaguar Cassette car stereo and much more. Externally the car looks fabulous in Opalescent BRG with Coombs-style spats on the rear and chrome wire wheels. Every single modification and enhancement was carefully considered by our vendor before going ahead and this was truly a personal project. The restoration was completed in 1999 and the Jaguar has been used lightly since then.

The car is accompanied by a comprehensive history file detailing recent ownership and all completed works and its tool kit, jack and wheel hammer. A really lovely example of a timeless design with a desirable modern specification all tucked away inside the outstanding profile of this classic Jaguar saloon. Your inspection is invited and encouraged to appreciate the quality on offer.