1963 Jaguar MkII 3.8 Manual Overdrive

The famed Jaguar MkII was voted car of the year when introduced in 1959. With 3 engine options - 2.4, 3.4 and 3.8 (the 3.8 being the fastest saloon in the world at the time), it would form the mainstay of Jaguar's saloon production until 1967. It became popular with the Police Force because its performance and reliability coincided with the opening of Britain's new motorway system (and was also driven equally fast by the corresponding villains of the day!). It also enjoyed competition success in the early days of the BTCC driven by many 60's period racers including Graham Hill and Jack Sears. The popular TV series 'Morse' also immortalised the shape of the Jag in the minds of a new generation of followers.

Delivered new in 1963 by Jaguar dealer Henlys of London, this car was supplied with the more powerful 3.8 engine and was originally finished in grey with a red leather interior. The early history of the car is unfortunately not documented, and we pick up the story again in 1991, when a Mr Merryweather of Cambridge purchases the car with grand plans in mind. Before ownership of the MkII was signed over to the would be owner, there are quotes in history file from various restoration companies, including; English Classic Cars, Vicarage Ltd and Simon Wheeler Classic Cars for an extensive restoration of "963 EOW'.

At that time, Simon Wheeler Classic Cars was acting as the UK agent for the now famed Jaguar MkII specialist Beacham Cars Ltd and it was decided by Mr Merryweather that the car was to have the Beacham treatment. A proforma invoice dated March 1991 from Simon Wheeler totals £39,217 for all work & upgrades to be carried out including shipping to and from Beachams HQ in Hastings, New Zealand!

An amended invoice from Dr Greg Beacham himself in 1991 shows a sum of £41,717 for the following restoration work and upgrades to be made to the car including; Vanden Plas seats, XJS power steering, air conditioning, Getrag 5-speed gearbox, uprated disc brakes, electronic ignition and a heated rear window to name but a few of the improvements. The car was finished in Alfa Romeo Rosso Red with a black leather interior and scheduled for a completion date of November 1991 ready to be shipped in January "92 back to UK shores. A plotted mileage is documented through the MoT certificates from 1993 when the car had covered 3,143 miles since restoration, bringing it right up date with the odometer currently reading only 25,046 miles.

Presented in excellent condition throughout and showing no signs of being an older restoration, this MkII is not to be overlooked and at a fraction of the cost of other uprated MkII's currently on the market. This genuine Beachams restored car is ripe for more enjoyment.