[camerjeff]

Long story, but I finally broke down and bought my wife the classic car she has wanted for 20+ years. Found the Jaguar Mark 2 that met all her requirements, LHD, Automatic, not Green, Blue, or Black, and with a red or tan interior.

Found a 1960 model that hasn't moved sense 1985 when the rear brakes went. Stored inside for the entire time. (35 years) the interior including the Red Leather and all the wood is in very good shape. 46,000 miles, 8 to 1 compression 3.8L engine. Cleaned and sealed the gas tank, blew out the lines, cleaned the SU carbs, Changed the oil, and got it running, and it runs very well (surprised me!) But the trans seems to be toast.

Actually went to pick it up yesterday from the previous owner's house. Got it on the trailer no problem, got it to the new storage site (waiting for the new shop to be finished) Pushed it off the trailer with me riding the brakes that somewhat worked when we loaded it. Well Murphy struck about 1/2 down the ramps and the left front brake caliper blew out, now no foot brakes, and the parking brake did not slow the car down. Lucky for me my assistant had place a long 6X6" about 10 feet from the wall I would have hit! No damage done. Whew!

This is going to be a learning experience, but I did pick it up for about 1/2 of what similar condition cars are selling for. Wish me luck

[OG68]

Beautiful car. Classic Jaguar design.

[GTOnly70]

Very cool! Looks like a super clean car.

[camerjeff]

Thanks, it is pretty clean for a NY & MI car, but it does have some rust in the lower front fenders. Other than that it is solid. And at least the engine seems to be strong. But I think it will be a long project getting it road worthy again. Working on the "starting" Carb this week. A small aux carb attached to the front SU operated electrically when the engin is cold.
Stuck solid after not moving for 35 years. Hopefully just gummed up.

[kingbuzzo]

interesting car...that's a close call too!

[geeteeohguy]

I turned down a free '59 two years ago that was a twin to this one. The difference was it had sat in a backyard for 35 years so the interior was baked and all the wood was shrunken and split and the engine was seized. It would have taken 100k to make it a 30k car. Have always loved these older classic 3.8's since my third grade teacher had one in the '60's. Gorgeous cars in and out.

[camerjeff]

That is the trouble with most of them, the interior sold this one. Its not perfect but it is very nice, and the car is completely stock. It has all the weird 1st series features, Oil bath air cleaner, recessed sunvisor's, and the early automatic steering column with the gear selector on the left side and the turn signal switch on the right side.
I like alot of the features, 4-wheel disc brakes, telescoping steering column, and the starter solenoid on the firewall with an button to turn over the engine! Made doing the compression check a EZ!

[77 TRASHCAN]

Wow, the paint looks like it could be saved!!!

[Half-Inch Stud]

Must...raise...compression. OHC-6 4-bbl Sprint power while doctoring the original engine.

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Must...raise...compression. OHC-6 4-bbl Sprint power while doctoring the original engine.

That would be a cool conversion especially turbo charges the 6 popper

If you keep that car w the SUs they are very easy to set up for blow through. Do a nice period correct liking turbo set up and that would be cool too. I’m gonna do that on my 61 MGA some day.

It’s a great car wanna keep it original but it’s too darn slow on hills, so figure the turbo period correct is the way to go

Bugatti had turbos in 1929 for those who think is new tech .

Took tat pic on my I phone one night btw not a professional pic at all.

Wish it didn’t have the crack sealing but it was just a pic sitting at the airport after flying one night

[77 TRASHCAN]

Is your wife from England???

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by camerjeff

Long story, but I finally broke down and bought my wife the classic car she has wanted for 20+ years. Found the Jaguar Mark 2 that met all her requirements, LHD, Automatic, not Green, Blue, or Black, and with a red or tan interior.

Found a 1960 model that hasn't moved sense 1985 when the rear brakes went. Stored inside for the entire time. (35 years) the interior including the Red Leather and all the wood is in very good shape. 46,000 miles, 8 to 1 compression 3.8L engine. Cleaned and sealed the gas tank, blew out the lines, cleaned the SU carbs, Changed the oil, and got it running, and it runs very well (surprised me!) But the trans seems to be toast.

Actually went to pick it up yesterday from the previous owner's house. Got it on the trailer no problem, got it to the new storage site (waiting for the new shop to be finished) Pushed it off the trailer with me riding the brakes that somewhat worked when we loaded it. Well Murphy struck about 1/2 down the ramps and the left front brake caliper blew out, now no foot brakes, and the parking brake did not slow the car down. Lucky for me my assistant had place a long 6X6" about 10 feet from the wall I would have hit! No damage done. Whew!

This is going to be a learning experience, but I did pick it up for about 1/2 of what similar condition cars are selling for. Wish me luck

Have you ever heard the old expression:”Buy a Jag; hire a mechanic who is proficient with Lucas electrics”?

[camerjeff]

Thanks for all the interest, to answer some of the questions, no my wife is not English, she just enjoys cars with odd details and are interesting to look at and drive. She also likes cars that handle well. So this one fits most of her ideas of "Fun" it also has 4 doors so she can take her parents or friends along with her easier than a car I would be more interested in.
As for mods other than replacing the trans with a OD unit I don't have any real plans on modifying it. And I will only do that if the original trans needs more than a fluid & filter change or a few easy to replace gaskets. I found they make a conversion kit to put a 7004R into them so that may be an option.

Looking at the spec's between a OHC-6 and the Jag 3.8L engine I don't see much point in a swap as stock the Jag engine is rated at 220 HP 240 lb/ft in a Mark 2 with the duel SU's. And weighs around 590 lbs. A 4bbl OHC-6 puts out 215 hp & 240 lb/ft. And weighs around 550 lbs. And they both red line at 6500 rpm. So other than the 40lbs more weight the engines are about a wash performance wise.
And my wife isn't really worried about drag racing any more so as long as the car can get out of its own way she will be happy with it. I might have to look into a FI conversion if she can't figure out haw to start it without flooding it. She floods my OHC-6 FB every time she tries to start it!

A few more pictures, for some reason she really likes the little folding trays on the back of the front seats? The pic of the tray table is off the web as I don't have a good shot of them.

And yes I am planning on having issues sorting out the electrical system, I will probably convert it to a Negative ground system, and get one of the Alternator conversions that look like the stock Generator. Mainly because of the odd power steering system it has. The Pump is driven off the end of the Generator so the Alternator is a bit Pricey and they come in both negative and positive ground versions, and I don't want to have to buy a 2nd one if I convert it. Hopefully I won't have to many issues with the electrical system as there is not much corrosion, But who knows. All I really know is the Starter and ignition system work, as I have not gotten around to flashing the field on the long disused generator. So I don't know if it is any good. And I havn't been able to check the rest of the system off just the battery. Fingers crossed. But the Brakes and Carbs are the 1st two issues to address.

[Bob Dillon]

Life is too short to own a British car.

[66sprint6]

Wow cool car. I'll never forget the smell when getting into my grandfather's old Jag. Leather and wood. He always had the unique vehicles like that when I was a kid. Jags, Volvo's, etc. He was British, so those were the cars he gravitated to. The first Pontiac I sat in was my dad's new Laurentian in 1969 or so.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by camerjeff

....This is going to be a learning experience, but I did pick it up for about 1/2 of what similar condition cars are selling for. Wish me luck

Sounds like your luck is already off to a great start !
Thanks to a 6x6
and a running engine.

Looks pretty darn impressive on the exterior.
Interior should bounce up enough
Probably needs at least one Beatles decal on it for a finishing touch.

[77 TRASHCAN]

You gonna carry some Grey Poupon......just in case???

[Radman]

Never had a British car, did own a couple of Triumph motorcycles. That said, go over the electronics with a fine tooth comb. There is a reason for the joke. "Why do British drink warm beer? Because they own Lucas refrigerators. "

[jerry455]

Cool car. The last car I saw her drive was the red GP GTX at Milan. A little different pace but it looks really nice. I first thought it was an E type because that is where my mind went but I like her new car.

[george kujanski]

Here come the Lucas jokes.................3 positions of a Lucas light switch........... OFF, FLICKER, and DIM

As far as classic British cars go I'd like to have an E type ....wouldn't any real car guy?

I have an Caddy Allante..... the Italian electrics are almost as bad. Always some electrical issue.

George