1962 | Jaguar Mk II 3.8

• Desirable 3.8-litre model with manual-overdrive gearbox

• Extensively upgraded throughout

• One of only eight cars built with factory sunroof

• Previously owned by Argentinian Ambassador

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

First registered on 10 April 1962, this striking Jaguar Mk2 counts the Argentinian Ambassador among its previous owners and has been extensively upgraded to make it an even more versatile example of this classic British saloon. 

Thought to be one of only eight Mk2s to have left Browns Lane with a factory-fitted sunroof, it was registered 9566 RW – a Coventry-issued numberplate that it still wears today. 

During the late 1980s, the Jaguar was fully restored – a two-year process that included a bare-metal respray from grey to dark blue, an interior retrim, and a rebuild of both the 3.8-litre engine and the four-speed manual-overdrive gearbox. A few years later, in the autumn of 1994, XJ6-type power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering was installed, as well as a fuel cut-off switch.

Owned by its current custodian since June 1998, the Mk2 was treated to another round of work between 2019 and 2022, the cost of which totalled approximately £35,000. The car was resprayed from dark blue to its current shade of red, the interior was fully retrimmed, and new seats – complete with headrests – were fitted. A retro-style digital radio was also installed.

The cooling system was upgraded via an expansion tank and an aluminium radiator with thermostatically controlled fan, while louvres were cut into the bonnet. A new aluminium heater matrix was fitted, the front seatbelts were renewed, and electronic ignition was added. The metal sliding roof was replaced with an electrically operated set-up, and the car has not been driven on wet roads since 2022.

In 2023, renowned Jaguar specialist Guy Broad carried out further work that included tuning the 3.8-litre straight-six, upgrading the front and rear brakes, fitting a new servo, and replacing the dampers all round. Replacement wheels with new spinners were then fitted the following year, and the car still features original Coombs-style rear spats.

Now being offered for sale in exceptional condition, this Jaguar Mk2 comes with a comprehensive history file that includes photographic records of its restoration work. The 3.8 with manual-overdrive gearbox is already the most coveted variant of this 1960s sports saloon, and its well-chosen upgrades make this car even more special.