1961 Jaguar MkII to 'Fast Road' Specification
Benefiting from a comprehensive £80,000 restoration

Registration No: SSL 364
Chassis No: 157197DN
MOT: August 2026

• Extensively restored from 2016 to 2019 at a cost of some £80,000
• Uprated to ‘fast road’ specification as part of the works including a five-speed gearbox, upgraded brakes, fuel injection, and power-assisted steering
• Just 4,000 post-refurbishment miles covered
• Valued by the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club in 2018 at £150,000 for insurance purposes
• Presenting excellently and offered with some 700 restoration photographs!

PLEASE NOTE: The vendor has obtained a Heritage Certificate in preparation for the auction, and this has confirmed that the Jaguar was manufactured in 1961, not 1963 as catalogued and registered with the DVLA.

For many the definitive Jaguar sports Saloon, the Mk. II was introduced in October, 1959. A peerless blend of elegance and muscularity, its sleek lines clothed an evolution of the Coventry marque's first monocoque design. Powered by derivatives of the same XK DOHC straight-six engine that had swept Jaguar to five Le Mans victories, the Mk. II was quick to dominate contemporary Saloon car racing. Equipped with coil-and-wishbone independent front suspension, a leaf-sprung Salisbury rear axle and servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes! Blessed with one of the all-time great automotive interiors, its stylish instrumentation, rich wood veneers and sumptuous leather upholstery all conspired to cosset and cocoon occupants.

This outstanding Mk. II is understood to have been supplied in RHD form to South Africa, but it was imported into Britain in April, 1999, and it has had just four owners since. Previously painted red, it was bought by the vendor in 2016 and promptly became the focus of one the most exhaustive cosmetic and mechanical overhauls we have ever encountered, costing the vendor a total of some £80,000. With the intention of making the Jaguar one of the jewels in his “curated classic car collection,” it was subjected to a bare-metal strip-down and rejuvenation, documented in more than 700 photographs, with the period-correct Dark Grey metallic chosen for its new colour. The work included the installation of a replacement engine, as the original had a cracked block.

It is not just our opinion that the car has been completed to the highest standards of presentation. Graham Searle, Official Insurance Valuer of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, provided his own summary: “This vehicle has been subject to a complete rebuild of all aspects to concours standards, plus careful uprating of brakes, suspension and gearbox to make it more drivable in modern traffic. In my opinion it would be extremely difficult to replace in this condition and the only option would be to purchase another car and build to this standard. Therefore, in my opinion the car would need to be insured for £150,000 to properly cover any replacement.”

Searle’s comments followed a more detailed report issued by independent motor claims assessor and consulting engineer John M. Kemp, who wrote: “The vehicle has been extensively and tastefully restored and renovated by a renowned specialist body repair garage. Many parts have been renewed and restored. These parts include new glass and trims and all chromium trims and fittings. The braking system was uprated with Coopercraft brakes, power-assisted steering, and the suspension system uprated and renewed as needed. The gearbox has been overhauled and uprated to a five-speed unit. All other mechanical units have been restored and overhauled as needed. The bodywork is in a factory, as-new condition as it has been lovingly renovated to what we consider a concours condition… The car is in outstanding condition and it is unlikely that it could be replaced if lost or destroyed.” Kemp likewise attached an insurance value of £150,000 to the car when finished, noting that the interior was a work in progress at the time of inspection.

Further upgrades included conversions to electronic ignition, and fuel injection (from Kevin Eagling Classic Fuel Injection). On the cosmetic front, the interior was refurbished with no stone left unturned. It was retrimmed with new Oxblood leather upholstery, plus new carpets and headlining, while all the walnut trim was meticulously revived, and the whole ensemble is very tastefully set off by the presence of a period-correct HMV radio converted to modern DAB internals. Externally, new chrome-plated wire wheels complete the car’s head-turning appearance. Concerning the rest of the chrome, the vendor sadly experienced some difficulties with the platers and bidders will note that there are some imperfections, however these are understood to be the only known faults with the car.

The extensive work has served to make it a genuinely useable classic for the road, potential concours credentials notwithstanding. To prove the point, the vendor has not shied away from using it, having covered some 4,000 miles since the work was completed. Suffice to say, he has not shirked on maintenance and the Jaguar has been MOTed annually since 2022, despite being exempt from testing. Unsurprisingly, it has passed every time with no advisories and is offered with a certificate valid until August next year. Should bidders require any further satisfaction as to the quality of the overhaul, they may wish to browse the 700-plus photographs! We do not exaggerate when we say that this is a unique opportunity to acquire an exemplary Mk. II.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452