1963 Jaguar Mark ll 3.8 Manual Overdrive

Rarely do cars given a facelift look as good as the models they are intended to replace, but with the Mkll, Jaguar put paid to that particular theory. William Lyons, whilst not a trained draughtsman, was a bit more hands-on than most men in his position when it came to the final design of his beloved Jaguars. And so it was with the Mkll, which was altogether a more modern and stylish car with a brighter interior and more balanced looks that most of us still admire. The 3.4 and 3.8 were the super-saloons of their day-with the 3.8 being the fastest saloon in the world at the time. The Jaguar MkII saloon was voted 'Car of the Year' when launched in 1959 and would form the mainstay of Jaguar's saloon production until 1967.

The car presented here is a 1963 Jaguar Mkll in the much sought-after specification of a 3.8-litre engine, manual/overdrive gearbox, wire wheels, and Carmen Red. This specification and its fully matching numbers status are supported by inspection, corresponding paperwork and a Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate. This Certificate and a supporting Jaguar Enthusiasts" Club letter (which are attached as a photo on the website listing) state the car was manufactured on the 5th July 1963 and dispatched to South Africa on the 4th November 1963. The nature of this export meant the car was then assembled in South Africa, which was the practice of the day. It was then sold to its first owner a Mr G E Hinnaar via John B Clarke"s Garage in Johannesburg. South Africa was secure during this period and labour was plentiful, so luxury cars tended to be particularly well-kept and maintained, plus they had the benefit of being used in a warm and dry climate. This particular car was subsequently bought and owned for many years by a Mr Graham Austin, from whom our vendor purchased it. It transpired that Graham Austin is a renowned classic car restorer, founding British Sports Cars Africa in 1982, and a former race-car driver (as documented in an article and photos attached to the website listing). Graham was able to confirm that he owned and restored this car in a letter which is in the history file.

We are informed that structurally the car appears very good with excellent floor pans, inner panels and under the body. The chrome work is also in very good condition for its age and everything is said to be mechanically and electrically sound. The car has been serviced recently, and it has an MoT (with no advisories) until the 7th September 2017. Here is a chance to own the most revered of Mkll models with a fascinating ownership provenance and offered at a very reasonable price guide.