Jaguar MkII 3.4 Manual Overdrive

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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. A development of the live-axle 2.4 and 3.4 saloons, which only retrospectively became known as the MkI, the MkII got an all-new monocoque body with a much larger glass area and more modern facia.

In the middle of the new range was the 3.4-litre which featured the famous twin-cam 3,442cc XK engine, as used in the earlier C and D-Type models. The short-stroke 3.4-litre was a particularly sweet running unit with excellent performance – at 210bhp it was only 10bhp shy of the larger 3.8-litre and could still hit 120mph flat out. Like its 2.4- and 3.8-litre 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.

This 3.4-litre manual overdrive model has had four owners and dates from 1965. It was ordered new through Henlys in Manchester, the accompanying Heritage Certificate confirming that it retains its original engine, although its colour has been changed from the original Opalescent Maroon to its current attractive Carmen Red. It was completed on 7th May, leaving Browns Lane two weeks later on 21st May 1965. The registration number has remained with the car since new, the current owner taking possession back in September 1988.

It had just been fitted with a stainless exhaust when he got it, the car being regularly used on club runs over the next few years averaging around 3,000 miles per annum. He prepared the car for a journey to Switzerland for the JDC gathering in 2001, fitting a new clutch and bellhousing and a new passenger sill before he left; enjoying a trouble-free run across Europe.

In 2005 he commissioned a new sill to be fitted to the driver’s side, taking the opportunity to remove and rebuild the engine while the car was off the road. New Bob Bate pistons and liners were installed and while the head was off, an unleaded valve-seat conversion was undertaken.

The interior has subsequently come in for attention too, with a new leather seat squab to match the original beige upholstery. New door cards, carpets and headlining brought the rest of the interior back up to scratch.

The most recent expenditure has seen new David Marks ball joints, a new fuel tank, replacement front brake discs, pistons and a new master cylinder which have ensured that the car has continued to remain as reliable as ever, the trusty Jaguar having never let the vendor down over the last 27 years.

This UK-market matching-numbers 3.4-litre is fitted with the desirable manual overdrive gearbox, has been very well cared for by its long-term owner, has an MOT until 26th March 2016 and will be confidently driven some 60 miles to the sale.