Estimate: £14,000 - £18,000
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“Grace, pace and space” Sir William Lyons, MD and co-founder, Jaguar Cars Limited
The Jaguar Mark 2 (aka MK 2 and Mark II) is one of the most recognisable saloon car shapes ever made and has featured in TV programmes from The Sweeney to Inspector Morse - in both cases co-starring with John Thaw. It also enjoyed a very successful competition history, most famously as the ‘Coombs’ Jaguars, built by John Coombs, a Jaguar dealer from Guildford who race-prepared his own cars and sold modifications to the public.
The Mark II’s lineage can be directly traced back to its predecessor, namely the 2.4 saloon, or Mark 1 as it would be retrospectively known in later years. This sporting saloon, designed to fill the gap in Jaguar's range between the XK sports models and the voluminous Mark VII, entered the market in 1956. Power came courtesy of the legendary XK straight six twin cam engine in 2483cc form. This new ‘2.4’ was notable as being a complete break away from the previous designs of Sir William Lyons and was his first foray into the modern world of monocoque (ie chassis-less) construction.
However, with just 112bhp available to the press-on motorist, the 2.4 was not overly burdened with pace, so Jaguar's response was to come in the shape of a 3.4 litre version which was launched in 1957 to supplement its smaller brother in their mid-size saloon range. As a result, 120mph was genuinely achievable, necessitating the introduction of optional Dunlop disc brakes (as developed on the C Type Jaguar remember), one year later to keep speeds in check.
At its launch in 1959, the Mark 2 utilised much of the running gear of its predecessor though improvements included a wider track for the rear axle, as Mark 1s could be skittish in extremis. Disc brakes became standard and a far ‘glassier’ cabin with slimmer pillars bought both the styling and interior ambience from the early 1950s bang up to date. 2.4 and 3.4 models were later joined by the 3.8 litre and Mark 2s were extremely popular with high-speed drivers who frequented either side of the legal divide - beloved of bank robbers and underworld hoods due to its useful pace and agility. While the 3.8 was the obvious choice for the 1960s speed freak, the cooking 2.4 could still muster 95mph or so, and was usually enough for most drivers. The 3.4 wasn't far behind the 3.8 in terms of pace, and if anything had a slightly sweeter revving engine and smoother power delivery; it is often the choice of the discerning buyer today.
Twelve months before the announcement of the XJ6, in 1967 the 2.4 litre and 3.4 litre Mark 2 models were renamed the Jaguar 240 and Jaguar 340 respectively. These last of the line examples came with ‘Ambla’ vinyl interiors as standard and slimmer S-type bumpers. For the performance oriented motorist these can represent a shrewd purchase as the slim-line bumpers save a significant amount of weight from, importantly, the extremes of the car – i.e. just where you don’t want any superfluous pounds - moments of inertial and all that. Total production for the Mark 2 340 was just 2,796, making these the rarest of all Mark 2 offerings.
With a very good supply of parts, their interchangeability with other models and a range of performance upgrades available, owning a Mark 2 Jaguar is relatively a relatively straightforward proposition for today’s classic motorist.
Registration Number: NAY346F
Chassis Number: 1J 50015 DN
Engine Number: 7J 50001-8
This purposeful example of Jaguar’s 1960s Sports Saloon was dispatched from the factory on 15th September 1967 to distributor Walter E Sturgess of Leicester; the company is incidentally still trading as the Sturgess Motor Group, Aylestone Rd, Leicester. Specified with a desirable manual and overdrive gearbox and 3.4 litre engine, its white coachwork contrasted nicely with a black interior.
After passing through several private owners, the Jaguar was acquired as part of a pair in 1996 by Everyman Racing of the Prestwold Driving Centre in Loughborough, for their Classic Car Experience. They lived here and at the Mallory Park racing circuit in Leicestershire for approximately 20 years where they were looked after by John Arnold of Revival Motorsport. There is a good chance that if you have been on a Classic Car Experience, you will have driven this car! The car was featured in various publications, including The Daily Telegraph, (Motoring section, Rod Ker, 1st November 2003, though he managed to get the engine size wrong!). During the ownership of Everyman, early documentation was lost, and so paperwork, including MOT certificates, exists only from 2006 along with some information gleaned by the current owner when researching the cars’ history.
When the Everyman team decided to wind up their Classic Experience in 2009, the Jaguar was sold to Swedish car collector Kent Abrahamson along with their other white Jaguar Mk2. Abrahamson intended to use them as a classic car track day team, and they were both looked after for him by Phil Stott Motorsport Ltd of Uttoxeter where they were maintained in their ‘fast road’ specification, benefiting from a number of very worthwhile upgrades including:
The vendor acquired both cars early in 2013, and has continued to improve them, fitting various new parts including plugs, points, an uprated battery, rear springs, a Harvey Bailey handling kit, poly bushes, an alternator, carpets, sound deadening, a rear screen rubber, replacement jack, unique and bespoke ITG racing air filters, stereo speakers and a period radio with discrete iPod connection.
Accompanying the history previously referred to there is also a small portfolio of photographs from its time at Everyman.
We would suggest that just as this 340 has led an active, working life it has clearly been very well maintained too. The engine bay is functional but tidy while the paint is good and could perhaps be further improved with a polish. The interior is, in our view, just right too with a well judged level of subtle wear. For the perfectionist, the woodwork could be re-laquered, the dials re-blacked and so on. Others may prefer to spend their time and money on what the car excels at - covering ground. Quite a lot of the chrome work has been replaced, and the rest still has a good level of shine. The 'crows feet' have been replaced and the tyres are Toyo RoadPro 205/65/15s with about 90% of their tread left. As you would expect from something that has been on the track for 20 years, it goes very well and this super sports saloon stops very well too with its larger callipers and vented discs. The handling is very secure showing the benefit of the polybushes, uprated springs, and Spax adjustable shock absorbers fitted all round.
Fully sorted and enjoyed extensively over the past few years by the owner, including a 1000 mile round trip to the Nurburgring, the Jaguar is now ready for further fast road or track-day use by a fortunate new custodian.
