Jaguar MkII 3.4 Saloon

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In 1959 Jaguar launched a new range of luxury compact saloons collectively known as the MkII. All were beautifully equipped in the finest Jaguar tradition with acres of walnut and leather inside and superb race-derived mechanicals that included all-round disc brakes and fine ride and handling characteristics for their era.

In the middle of the new range was the MkII 3.4-litre which featured the famous twin-cam 3,442cc XK engine, as used in the earlier C and D-Type models. The 3.4-litre was a particularly sweet running unit with excellent performance – at 210bhp it had only 10bhp less than the 3.8 and could still hit 120mph flat out. Like its smaller and bigger engined stablemates, it was clothed in one of the most handsome saloon car bodies ever made. Production of the MkII 3.4 ended in 1967, although a cheaper version, the 340, continued to sell until 1969.

First registered in Somerset in May 1963, this particular MkII has had just seven owners from new and has been in the current ownership since 2010. Although there is very little history with the car it does come with a Barons auction catalogue description from 2006 which states that it was first owned by a headmaster who kept it for seven years before selling it to a wealthy collector with only 3,500 miles on the clock.

The second owner was apparently a personal friend of William Lyons and in 1976 the car was returned to the Browns Lane factory for a refurbishment which included a respray in the original Opalescent Dark Green and the fitment of chrome wire wheels. In 1987 it was sold to a farmer who also used it very sparingly before selling it with 21,000 miles on the clock. By 2006 when Barons sold it, the car reputedly still had only 28,000 miles on the clock (although there is insufficient documentary evidence to warrant this total).

The vendor has only added around 400 miles during his four years’ ownership so the indicated mileage today is around 28,400. Whatever the true mileage may be, the car certainly presents well with generally good paintwork, a re-trimmed Sage Green interior, excellent chromework, a recent new battery and good tyres all round. The underneath also appears to be very sound and unmolested.

Fitted with the desirable manual overdrive gearbox, it has a particularly smooth-sounding engine which has been fitted with an auxiliary oil pressure gauge under the bonnet. Taxed until April 2015 and MOTd until next March (with no advisories recorded), it is said to drive beautifully and certainly performed well when we were treated to a test drive with a notably smooth and rattle-free ride even on bumpy country lanes. A most attractive example all round, it is ready to enjoy right away.