﹒£5.5K spent on renewing components last year
﹒Beautifully presented engine and interior
﹒Manual with Overdrive

Are there many other marques that represent the British sporting saloons better than Jaguar MK2? As an upgrade to the original, the MK2 came with a wider variety of straight-six engines, each one in a different state of tune. The 2.4-litre was the entry-level engine and attracted a whole new customer base, who could finally scrape together their shillings to invest in a big cat. 

This car is in a batch of the last 250 2.4 versions before Jaguar replaced it with the similar 240. The chassis number corresponds with an August 1967 build date but has a handful of features that were common on the 240, such as the lack of front fog lights and tufted instead of pile carpets. The later 240 were downgraded in spec using cheaper materials, so this car with Twin-Solex carbs could well be considered the last of the breed.

The car has had 8 owners over its 53-year-old history, with the previous owner keeping the car for two decades. It was driven up until the ’90s and then laid up for storage. The current owner has an active passion in classic cars and something of a fan of the MK2 Jaguar, having owned three in the past. When the opportunity presented itself, he seized on the opportunity to take it on, thanks to the decent condition of the interior and presentation of the car. He took the car over to his local mechanic to give it a once over, who came to the conclusion that the underside of the car was extremely solid. While the car was in a very presentable state, the current owner still committed capital into rectifying a few issues and painfully told us that the bill came to over £5.5K… However a slight change in plan has come up and he is weighing up the idea of replacing the car with something else, so has decided to pass the car on.

One of the several pleasing aspects of this car is the volume of paperwork and receipts that come with the car, which includes evidence that the car had a lot of work completed on it in the early part of the 2000s. In addition, there is documentation from the late ’80s, which includes all sorts of components from jacking points to timing chains as well as the usual maintenance items. The maintenance spending continued until it was laid up for seven years. Included in the paperwork is a letter from the previous owner who explains that he maintained the car to the best of his ability until old age caught up with him. The car was then passed on to a car dealer and bought by the current owner in June of 2020. It also comes with recent MOT.

The interior presentation is a real treat. Finished in red Ambla upholstery, it’s obvious that much of the facia, carpets, seats and headlining appear have seen renewal, but the car still retains some original patina, with particular evidence on the walnut finishing. All the chrome brightwork inside the car is in good condition, the door cards are damp-free and mostly unmarked, with the chrome winders and door handles in fully functional condition. The steering wheel and gear knob are in very good condition, again supporting that they are refurnished items. The headlining is tear-free and in decent condition. The driver's seat has a repair patch on it, but all the other seats are unmarked with minor signs of wear and tear. The car is also fitted with 4 seat belts.

The first impressions are good, with all the brightwork, glass and trim complete and in good condition. Some of the bumper chrome is lightly pitted but not enough to distract you. Some of the door gaps are intermittent. The good news is that the chassis legs and cross members are in good condition, with areas around the jacking point looking solid. Suspension mounts are said to be in good order too. The significant exterior panels such as the roof, wings, boot and bonnet are straight and show no ripples in the metal. The doors and rear arches themselves are in decent condition but the lower halves are not 100% flush with the bodywork which will need further investigation - the flow of the top 3/4 of the bodywork is not in question though. The sills and A, B and C pillars are rust-free. In addition, the areas around both the back and front screen are also free from corrosion. The engine bay was rust free with no obvious signs of deep corrosion and the boot structure in a similarly solid condition. Both the boot pan and spare wheel being free of structural rust. The correct spec Dunlop SP tyres have plenty of life left in them, having been on the car for only two years. The steel wheels and hubcaps are undamaged, with just minor signs of wear and tear.

The car, being cream, shows up a few blemishes and has seen a dab of the odd touch-up paint to protect the metal. There are two areas where the metal has been exposed, there is a small spot under the front edge of the centre bonnet trim under the leaping Jaguar emblem and a chip around the near-side rear door handle. Both have yet to rust. The overall finish of the paint is good, it retains a lustre throughout and the paint gleams in the winter sunshine. The glass is in good condition, with no major scratches or chips. The rubber on the glass and doors are clearly recent items, and there was no evidence of water ingress in the car. Although there was a small amount of condensation inside the car. The car has been stored in a garage since the owner bought it, and judging by the overall sheen of paint and lack of natural elements on the body, it looked like the previous owner had stored the car in the same fashion.

The mechanical aspect of the car is very positive, the engine starts up on the button and the condensation from the exhaust quickly disappears, as the car rises to the correct temperature. There were no nasty knocking noises coming from the engine, the 2.4-litre engine purring away with no spluttering. This version is fitted with a manual gearbox with overdrive. As you pull the interior lever to have a peek under her bonnet, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail of the engine. Correlating with the robust mechanical aspect of the engine, the components are remarkably clean, with evidence of several new parts fitted in its recent history. The radiator is in good order, with pipe and ancillaries in well-maintained condition. The electrical wiring is clean and tidy with no signs of butchery, which includes an electric ignition. The braking and suspension components have been subject to renewal, with bushes, callipers, pads, roll-bar links and washers all replaced this year. The car also comes with a complete tool kit and a workshop and period service manual.

The MK2 2.4 has often suffered the indignity of being overlooked due to its smaller engine, but its worth remembering that the 2.4-litre XK engine was also installed in a Grand Prix car. The 2.4, therefore, represents excellent value in comparison to other MK2 shaped cars. There are plenty of possible options for this solid and nicely presented car, with potential for wedding hire, further engine upgrades or left simply as it, as a practical and head-turning weekend car.

This is a well-maintained and looked after example with decades worth of paperwork, providing an opportunity for those who would like to own a bargain MK2. Furthermore, this late example has the benefits of not only having the best version of the 2.4 model but also represents one of the finest racing luxury saloons ever produced.

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