Description
As men of Coventry we would of course love a Mark II Jaguar. Here is something exceptional. Pay attention. If you want the best then definitely pay attention. Often referred to as the bank robber choice of get away car our 1967 example was ordered by the Metropolitan Police to be the chaser of the villains. As such it rolled off the production line as stated by the Jaguar Heritage Certificate on the 25th of October 1966. Ultimately the Police didn’t take delivery of the car and it was registered for the road on 1 st August 1967 as one of the very last to be registered as production ended in September 1967.
Not much of the early history is documented. Green logbook entries from 1976 to a Mr Platt being the sum of the early history. Where things get relevant and current begins in 1990 when well known Jaguar man Dave Grundy began a total bare shell nut and bolt restoration of KON17F. This work is fully documented in the extensive history file. This restoration to concours standard between 1990 and 1994 preceded the sale to Derek Eckemory who took ownership on 26/ 6/ 1996 enjoying the car for 5 years before passing the baton of custodianship to the present owner on the 15 th October 2001. From this point a ‘love affair’ between a man and his car is documented in great and intimate detail If I could describe the perfect classic car owner in my view it could be present owner John Southall. The reason I say this is apparent when you see his ‘pride and joy’ car and find at least an hour to read through the history file.
The history file is forensic in documenting every penny lavished on this car. It is intimate in that the file details 30000+ miles driven in the car all over Europe. This car has had a beating heart that has been maintained to perfection by the very best Jaguar people. BUT more than that the car has soul. Jaguar Drivers Club Champion of Champions 4 time entrant and 38 other Concours wins and trophies prove that what has done had been done without cost as a consideration. Indeed John hasn’t added up all the invoices…………I have and it reflects maintenance without compromise. For me I see this car as a concours car for sure. BUT this is a ‘Pride of Ownership’ car and winner. So many concours entrants are not really driven. Not this car. It has 30000 documented miles with 3 trips into Europe among them The sands of time as they are John has decided that now is the time to pass the custodianship and responsibility for KON17F to a new owner. A life well spent over a quarter of a century and I would expect no less from John and the team at CBR Restoration when they delivered a car fit for a concours competition or another trip to Europe. The very essence of a perfect classic car. A Mark II Jaguar doesn’t get better than this matching numbers last of the line piece of Jaguar history.
When was the best ever cheap? Never, is the answer. This car is not cheap but it is the best available today and you could not build this car from scratch for less than £80k. So if you want the best this is the way to do it because cars being restored to this standard are like hens teeth as the best restorers retire. If you found somebody capable of doing this quality you would wait years for the job to be done. If you see the value in this car on that basis then you will be the very lucky new owner of a car cherished and maintained perfectly.
