Jaguar MkII 3.8 Manual Overdrive

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One of the greatest saloon cars of all time, the Jaguar MkII 3.8 litre was launched to huge acclaim in 1959.

With stunning performance from its 220bhp straight-six engine (0 – 60 in 8.5 seconds), this full four-seater could embarrass most sportscars of the day and leave 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 both 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. No wonder it also established itself as the ultimate get-away car. With room for four burly gangsters and a big stack of loot, no 60’s bank job was complete without a 3.8 fishtailing its way from the scene of the crime, hotly pursued by another MkII that the cops had been forced to buy to keep up!

First registered in December 1961, this 3.8 looks most eye-catching in red with chrome wire wheels and a red leather interior. An original right-hand drive car with overdrive, it was apparently exported to the sunny state of California quite early in its life and was to remain there until the 1990s, hence the good state of preservation today.

We are advised that the car was restored in 2010 with bills on file detailing the works carried out, more recent maintenance including a complete brake overhaul with new master cylinder etc, a new radiator and much work to the electrical system. Said by the vendor to be in very good condition all round it comes with an MOT until August 2016.

At the time of cataloguing we had not had chance to inspect either the vehicle or its paperwork and prospective purchasers are invited to do so before they make their bids.

AMENDMENT: Please note that this car was originally a LHD Automatic, not as previously stated.