Jaguar MkII 240 Automatic

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 One of the greatest saloon cars of all time, the compact Jaguar MkII was launched to huge acclaim in 1959.

The top-of-the-range 3.8-litre model had stunning performance from its 220bhp straight-six engine and could embarrass most sportscars of the day, leaving them trailing in its 125mph wake. Keeping everything under control were servo-assisted disc brakes all round, coil-and-wishbone independent front suspension and a leaf-sprung Salisbury rear axle with optional limited slip diff. Inside was beautifully trimmed in walnut and leather in the finest Jaguar tradition.

A huge success on road and track, the MKII was quick to dominate contemporary saloon car racing in the hands of drivers like Stirling Moss and Roy Salvadori. The entry level model was the 2.4-litre which was virtually identical in every way to the 3.8 apart from the smaller engine.

Although the 2.4 is often unkindly thought of as being a trifle underpowered, in reality it performed well for the period being capable of a genuine 100mph and was only shown up against its brawnier 3.4 and 3.8 siblings – although some would argue that the lighter engine gave it better handling.

This 1968 car is a very late 240 Automatic distinguished by its slimline bumpers and Ambla, rather than leather, interior. The vendor acquired the car in 2005 when it was apparently a pretty spectacular example, having had just one owner for the previous 17 years. Unfortunately illness struck, and apart from an early trip to The Isle of Man, the vendor never got chance to use the car again and it has languished in barn storage ever since. Being sold here strictly ‘as seen’ it will doubtless require a fair degree of recommissioning / restoration before it can be put back into use.