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If you spend any time sat in a Jaguar Mark 2, you may imagine those who have sat in the same position as you. You may think of Lords, Ladies and the well-to-do of the late 1950s and 1960s. Whilst you are probably not wrong, you may not have imagined bank robbers and those generally up to no good! The typically pleasant interior, varnished wood dash and armchair-like front seats invite the driver in, and certainly tempt you to take on that trip to the south of France that you have always been dreaming of. Once you arrive in Monte-Carlo, you’ll be very glad of the disc brakes as standard on the steep hills heading down toward the Mediterranean! The crooks of the time enjoyed the disc brakes, but they also enjoyed the 2.4L, 3.4L and 3.8L engines, which left the Police in their Ford Anglias far behind! So far behind in fact, the Police ended up buying their own fleet of Mark 2s just to keep up!
The Mark 2 followed the retrospectively named Mark 1, and the 2.4L and 3.4L engines under the bonnet of the ‘240’ and ‘340’ respectively were the same engines as used in the Mark 1, but the 3.8L Mark 2 is by far the most coveted. When the Mark 2 was launched, it was luxury through and through. Large chrome bumpers with overriders, full leather upholstery and the most magnificent deep pile carpet, all as standard. However as a recession hit, Jaguar introduced the 240 and 340 variants. The main difference is the fact that the 240 had a 2.4L engine, and the 340 had a 3.4L engine, but there were also other differences. In short, the luxuries described earlier were replaced in the 240 by slightly more cost-effective materials. The bumpers were slimmed down, the carpets became slightly less luxurious, and the once leather interior was replaced with a faux-leather plastic alternative. If the customer felt strongly about the size of their bumpers or the pile count in their carpets they were able to pay more to upgrade, but as standard the 240 was a slightly more budget friendly version. Behind all engines up to 1967 you will find a four speed Moss gearbox with partial synchromesh, so a confident double-d clutch down into first is important. Post 1967, Jaguar began fitting their own gearbox with synchromesh on every gear. There are some Mark 2s with automatic gearboxes, especially the V8 Daimler model which we will come onto. You may see Mark 2s advertised as MOD, and thankfully this doesn’t mean it has seen active combat with the Ministry of Defence, but instead has a manual gearbox with overdrive – the most desirable gearbox addition out there, and one crucial for a jaunt down to Monte-Carlo. The combination of 3.8L with manual overdrive is certainly seen as the best of the bunch when it comes to the different Mark 2 variations.
So, you’ve found a Mark 2 that you like the look of, what next? Well although the Mark 2 is up there with the best classic car designs, it has often lived in the shadow of the ‘sportier’ cars such as the E-Type. Up until recently a good example floated around the £20,000 mark, whereas at time of writing, a good example could comfortably sit in the region of £50,000-£60,000 mark. Although this is promising for the future value of the car, this does mean that there are many examples around that have seen many sub-par repairs due to the fact that it simply was not financially viable to spend large amounts of money on a car ‘only’ worth £20,000. If you compare this to an E-Type for example, although prices have certainly increased in recent years, a fine example of a Series I E-Type has not dipped under £100,000 - £125,000 for ten years or more so it was worth keeping the car in tip-top condition. This is not in any way meant to try to put you off purchasing a Mark 2, and here at Bill Rawles Classic Cars we have several customers who keep their Mark 2s regularly inspected and serviced every year. It is more to serve as a warning that knowing the history of the vehicle is paramount. One of the most problematic elements of owning a Mark 2 is the fact that Jaguar designed and built the Mark 2 as a monocoque design. At the time, the classic design of bodies bolted onto chassis were the norm, but the monocoque design of the Mark 2 (meaning that the body is the chassis) was seen as a huge development. 60 years on, this presents a multitude of issues, with the main one being rust. If you have rust in the body, the floor or the sills, the structural integrity of the vehicle could be compromised, and are very involved to repair. It is therefore very important to get any vehicle inspected before you make a commitment.
With all this being said, what can you get for you money? This depends a lot on which model you are looking at. Our advice is to always buy the best car you can afford, which may sound obvious, but if your budget tops out at £20-25,000 you would be better off buying a lovely 340 then buying a low end 3.8 MOD. However, if your budget can stretch, often, the most desirable cars hold their value and offer greater enjoyment. 240s and 340s generally command a lower sale price with good examples fetching £15-25,000.
Focusing on the most desirable, MK2 3.8l MOD, a restoration project could be anything up to £10,000, an on the road example up to £20,000, a good example up to £40,000 and an excellent recent restoration could be anything upwards of £50,000-£60,000 and exceptional examples are £70,000 + but I question how many really sell at this figure. As ever, consulting a professional’s opinion is essential.
As with any classic car, the word ‘restoration’ can be used to cover all sorts of work, so especially when it comes to a Mark 2, be sure to investigate what the seller really means by restoration. A true restoration is refreshing every part of the car and taking it back to as good or hopefully better than when it left the factory. A reconditioning is rectifying issues that present themselves but perhaps not digging much deeper than those on the surface. Photos and invoices could unlock the secret to the car’s past! Also, as with any classic vehicle, has the car spent extended periods of time unused? If the tyres are cracked or perished, they (hopefully!) have not been on the road for a long time.
As an attempt not to confuse matters, the Daimler V8 250 sits alone in this guide. However, everything you have read up to this point still applies. The Daimler V8 shares brakes, suspension and perhaps most importantly the body with the Mark 2, but the one main difference is the presence of the V8 under the bonnet. There are only really two different variations of the 250 V8, manual or automatic gearbox. The Daimler was initially only produced with an automatic gearbox, but from 1967 onwards a MOD option was introduced. Opinion is divided, but both MOD and automatic are a good option if well maintained and in good condition. When it comes to value, the Daimler has always lagged behind the Mark 2, but that does not mean they are any less of a car. An excellent Daimler tops out at around £40,000, maybe slightly more for one with particular heritage, but it is important to remember that a ‘bargain’ Daimler V8 could be full of surprises down the road!
If you ever have any questions when it comes to buying a Jaguar Mark 2, Daimler V8, or any classic car for that matter, here at Bill Rawles Classic cars, we have the experience, skills and knowledge to ensure you know everything possible about the vehicle you wish to purchase. We are always here to help as you require and will travel nationwide and even overseas to complete inspections are reports.