1964 Jaguar Mk2 3.4-Litre - Manual

More widely admired than any other Jaguar saloon, the Mk2 now seems synonymous with the 1960s. Leaner looking than its Mk1 predecessor, the reduced girth of its roof posts not only gave occupants a far airier glasshouse but also presented onlookers with a rather more elegant shape. Built as a monocoque, it featured independent coil-sprung front suspension, a well-located 'live' rear axle and all-round disc brakes. Available in 2.4-litre, 3.4-litre, and 3.8-litre guises, the larger-engined variants soon became known as capable sports saloons, a reputation underscored by their racing siblings' numerous track victories against assorted opposition. Although slower on paper, the 3.4-litre cars nonetheless boasted some 210bhp and 216lb/ft of torque, an output more than sufficient to ensure a 120mph top speed and spirited acceleration.

The car presented here is a 1964 Jaguar Mk2 3.4-litre (chassis #166658DN, engine #KJ 4605-8) which in 2014/2015 was restored by Jaguar specialists Classic Motor Cars (CMC) of Bridgnorth at a cost of over £85,000 and involved a full body restoration, including fitting new door skins, repairing all corrosion and repainting the car, an engine overhaul, a full re-trim, new woodwork, re-chroming of all brightwork, overhauling both the brakes and suspension, fitting a modern Toyota Supra 5-speed gearbox, powered rack and pinion steering, a stainless steel exhaust, a 123 distributor, new wiring loom, new chrome wire wheels, excellent Vredestein Classic Sprint tyres, undersealing, an alternator conversion, seat belts front and rear, and fitting a touch-screen multifunction radio/CD/phone.

According to the car's accompanying Heritage Certificate, this is an April 1964 example originally exported to Rhodesia and brought back to the UK in 2005. Coming from Rhodesia, the car was an excellent basis for a restoration, being almost rust-free and generally very sound. In the UK it has had just one previous owner who commissioned the restoration. The history file contains an illustrated history of the car, photos of the bare-metal restoration and a collection of invoices from CMC for the restoration and some more recent work.

The exterior condition is fabulous; the Jaguar Indigo Blue paintwork is deep and luxurious, the chrome is perfect having been either re-chromed or replaced with new, all badges and details are correct, the chrome wire wheels are new and unblemished and the overall effect is stunning. Underneath, the car is in excellent condition finished with a quality underseal.

The interior has been completely recommissioned: the upholstery has been retrimmed in high-quality red leather with matching carpets, the headlining is perfect, the woodwork has been refinished to a very high standard, all the fittings and instruments are good, modern inertia-reel seat belts are fitted to the front and rear and a Moto-Lita steering wheel completes the look. A modern radio/CD player has been installed with phone connectivity and all the internals and speakers have been carefully and discretely fitted to provide high-quality sound in what is a very civilised and quiet car.

All mechanical components were rebuilt during the restoration. The original engine is powerful, willing, smooth and quiet, just as it should be, with no leaks. The car now sports a Toyota 5-speed gearbox fitted by CMC during restoration, offering comfortable cruising whilst providing sporting performance in the lower ratios and the steering is now power-assisted. The rest of the drivetrain is excellent, the suspension gives a comfortable ride and the car handles magnificently – everything works well together. Sensible upgrades include an alternator conversion, uprated headlamps and a stainless-steel exhaust.

This is a classic car that is not claiming to be wholly original (however, the engine and chassis are matching numbers) but simply applies the classic car experience to modern driving/usage – a ‘best-of-both-worlds’ scenario. It has all the enhancements that build on the inherent Mk2 3.4 qualities, just making it faster, more reliable, more comfortable, safer and able to tour with ease. A great opportunity to acquire a very competent classic Jaguar.