1960 Jaguar Mk II

Saloon · RHD · 3.8L

Price £135,000

unique original competition factory specification

first 100 early chassis cars

Sayer-approved

The essentials

This stunning example of an early original Jaguar Mk II was supplied by PJ Evans of Birmingham to Guest, Keen & Nettlefold Ltd (GKN). It still retains its original registration plate 1 COA, or 1 Birmingham. GKN was named after the three founder Directors (Guest, Keen and Nettlefold) and were the biggest sole distributor of components to Jaguar.

Manufactured in July 1960, chassis number 201591DN was supplied new to GKN in the September of that year. The car had many unique Jaguar factory features; its engine was not 8:1 compression but 9:1, fitted with a straight port cylinder head and twin sandcast carburetors. Also included were Jaguar competition factory seats as fitted to the Tour De France Mk II in period, a very rare factory item not seen on any other Mk II vehicle to our knowledge. The Jaguar Heritage Certificate also denotes that the car was supplied with wire wheels, which it still retains today.

The original log book is with the car, listing PJ Evans as the distributor, GKN as the first owner, and then Mr Michael Charles Toombs the second owner. The history file also contains Mr Toombs’ 1964 Autocar magazine listing the vehicle for sale. Mr Toombs purchased 1 COA for £865 and used the car sparingly during his ownership, only covering circa 1,000 miles since 1964. The history file contains original maintenance and service invoices for works on the car. A copy of a programme for the Silverstone International Trophy (British Grand Prix) May 1965, plus stickers are still retained from the event on the front and rear screens. Also included is a programme from the 50th Earls Court Motor Show October 20th -30th 1965, another event he attended that year.

As recorded in Classic Cars magazine, the vehicle was discovered in the early 2000’s and appears to have been sparingly used, having been well tucked away, with just over 26,000 miles showing on the clock. In November 2015 M&C Wilkinson Ltd had the car featured by Jim Patten of Jaguar World prior to the sympathetic preservation works carried out. At that time the car still had its Webasto sunroof fitted which was installed by Mr Toombs during his ownership, again the history file contains the original BMC brochure for the item.

In January 2016 Jaguar World received and published a letter from an Anthony Edwards, informing Jim Patten that in the early sixties, when he was a member of the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC), club members would sprint and hill climb at the usual venues, including Long Marston, Wellsbourne and Staveton, sadly all long gone.

The Club also used to meet at the Mitre Oak, Ombersley, just down the road from Chateau Imney. The Mitre Oak is steeped in grand prix legend as the place where the idea of going motor racing at Silverstone took root in the August of 1945. One Sunday the club held a ‘driving test’ in the pub car park between opening hours. One of the competitor’s cars was a Mk II owned by GKN Claude Birch (Managing Director), driven by Michael Cole. The car was 1 COA and in Anthony’s words was “race-prepared by Jaguar”. Further explaining its unique specification and the importance of the relationship between Jaguar and GKN at that time.

Nigel Thorley of Jaguar Enthusiasts also featured the car in the January 2016 issue of JE, having visited and viewed the car he felt it was a unique Mk II from all the information on file and special features that it still retains today. He stated that the cars mileage at 26,909 appeared genuine and it must have been a very special order from the factory given the specification. The 9:1 cylinder head and sandcast carbs all look original and contain the original numbers stamped as per the car’s Jaguar Heritage Certificate.

After being brought to our attention at M&C Wilkinson, the vehicle was purchased and painstakingly and sympathetically restored, including a full overhaul of its engine, gearbox and back axle. The vehicle boasts all original exterior and interior components, including many early features such as the painted dash centre. Once the works were completed the car was then inspected in 2018 and approved with a set of FIA papers for the early Mk II period E specification, valid until 31.12.2028.

One of the first one hundred Mk II 3.8 litre cars to be produced, with a unique factory specification, race-prepared by Jaguar, sparingly used and carefully preserved by only four owners. This vehicle is ready to use, form part of an important collection, or driven high days and holidays. 1 COA is known to Goodwood and is a potential entrant for classic events such as the Revival and Tour Optic.

Please enquire for full details of restoration and provenance.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information above but errors may occur.

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