1959 JAGUAR MK1 3.4L O/D xke e-type xk120 xk140 xk150 aston bentley mk2 giulia

Historically. the Mk1 practically stole the show at Earl's Court in October of 1955. marking a huge shift for Jaguar in both design and construction. It was the first Jaguar to leave Browns Lane with unitary construction of body and chassis. Ever the visionary. William Lyons saw a shift in the tastes and attitudes of buyers of the hopping 1950's and sought to capture the new sports saloon market. The Mk1 became the 3-series BMW of its time. and while living in the shadow of the later Mk2. a recent review by Classic Motoring stated that while the Mk1 “may lack the popularity and appeal of the Mk2. the earlier saloon is now the one enthusiasts clamor for. noting “the smart money now goes on the Mk1 for those after a sound long term investment. ” Whether this is true or not. the Mk1 holds its own and offers both a great driving experience and a piece of art to stare at.

On April 13th Sedrik. the 2nd owner. began a 49 year love affair with this car. It is a rare optioned and conditioned. numbers matching. 1959 Jaguar 3. 4 liter. 4 speed overdrive. special equipment model. that quite simply has it all. From the best color combination. the optional 3. 4 liter motor. the overdrive gearbox. the improved 4-wheel disc brakes. to the incredible original condition. the car is extraordinary. While dramatic. I believe this car to be one of the white unicorns of MK1's and I spent a year corresponding. and trying to purchase the car from the previous owner.

Having grown up in the back seat of my dad's 1963 Jaguar 3. 8 Litre Mk2 daily driver. I have a special fondness for this car. and constantly geek out over the quirky styling differences. In 2011. I had the Mk2 and Mk1 stored in the same location. and initially viewed the Mk2 as superior. The Mk1 won me over in the end with its unique charm. and while the driving experiences are similar. I find the smaller Mk1 more nimble and fun to drive. I have also grown to prefer the cleaner. sportier. lines of the Mk1 body. with less chrome trim. and the library-esque more quaint interior. In terms of charm. the Mk1 evokes the sexiness and exoticism of the XK140. with the added bonus of 4-seats so friends and family participate in the experience.

From what I've been told and researched. this car was purchased new at British Motorcars of San Francisco and spent its entire life in San Francisco. The nice condition and originality are due in large part to the second owner's meticulous care. Records document Sedrik traded his 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe for this car on April 11th 1963 at British Motorcars of San Francisco and the car remained in his ownership nearly 50 years until 2011.  

Mechanically. the car is in good working order and is extremely fun to drive. And no wonder famed Jaguar and Ferrari team driver Mike Hawthorne personally drove a similarly equipped MK1. The engine has excellent oil pressure. 58psi at idle. and was rebuilt in 1990. Records date to 1963. and include the receipt for the engine rebuild. Based on how strongly the motor runs. I believe the car was driven very little after the rebuild. It's likely the gearbox was rebuilt when the motor was done but I do not have records for this work. The gearbox has a great feel with no 1st or 2nd gear synchro issues. There are undated records for a new clutch. All gauges. switches. and cool. rear recessed. interior lighting are in good working order. The cigarette lighter and fuel warning light even work!

Recent service has included a new stainless exhaust system. fuel pump. Redline transmission and differential fluid and new suspension mounts. The new exhaust system sounds out of this world. Areas in need of attention are the brake booster and heater core. A new brake booster was installed but I have yet to diagnose why the vacuum line was not connected. A tested. replacement. heater core is also with the car. but not yet installed. If possible. I might have this fixed prior to the auction close.

Cosmetically. the car is very presentable. Rare Lucas Tri-Bar headlights and Lucas front fog lamps give a sportier. more sophisticated. look to the front of the car. Records show the car underwent a bare-metal re-spray in 1981. The body is very straight with no dents. though not immune to small touch-ups or couple dings from the last 30 years. The body and underside also show no signs of any accident damage ever. Door fit and closure are perfect. and all windows are in good working order. All side windows and rear glass retain their' original Triplex manufacturer's etching. In regards to rust. I have been told that this car is likely one of the most rust-free. California. Mk1's. with no signs of rust repair and excellent original floors. In terms of cosmetic needs. the car would benefit from new door rubber seals. I also have a new gasket for the front windshield.

Inside. the interior is completely original. The walnut trim. original steering wheel. original door panels. original red door felt. and original headliner all look great. I have contemplated redoing the front seat bottoms. though they are still in usable condition. The front seat backs and rear seat leather are all still amazingly supple. I have been told that the steering wheel is in incredible original shape for an XK wheel though it does have a couple hairline cracks. The original radio remains with the car. Also included in the sale are the original keys and tool kit. The car would benefit from new floor mats. as the current ones are original.

This car should not be confused with its far more common and less sporting brother. the MK2. There are only a handful of excellent LHD MK1's left in the world that left the factory with all desirable options. The majority of MK1's imported to the USA had the horrid Borg Warner D250 automatic transmission and less desirable front bench seat. I also recommend crossing the Mk1's 2. 4L engine off your list. as without being heavily modified/tuned. they lack ample power and suffer from poor drum brakes. Rule out most right-hand-drive models. as these cars were daily drivers. and the majority of RHD models suffer from rust and patched bodywork. Beware of a project cars. as a proper restoration will likely cost double the value of the car when finished.

There are several great online articles reviewing the Mk1 that I found by Googling “Jaguar Mk1 values. ” I have also heard YouTube has great race videos of Mk1's competing at the Goodwood Revival Festival.

During my ownership. the car has been used solely for weekend outings and classic car events. Recent routine maintenance has been performed by Vintage Auto Service. a local Jaguar specialist. The car is also for sale locally and thus reserve the right to end the auction early. The car is sold as-is. with no warranty implied. and can be inspected prior to auction close. For out of state or international buyers. I am willing to work with your shipper regarding coordinating pick-up. but shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Currently listed as an auction on eBay USA. PLEASE feel free to call with any questions (650)483-(six)(five)67. Car is located in Burlingame. California USA.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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