1963 Jaguar MK II 3.8 'Manual' Saloon

Exactly what is it that makes the Mark II Jaguar so special? It can lay claim to being the first truly modern sports saloon, offering sports car eating performance in a practical, compact four-door body - in short, the Mark II is the forerunner to today's uber saloons such the M5 BMW. Retaining the same monocoque construction and XK six-cylinder engines as its predecessor (known today as the Mark I but simply as the 2.4/3.4 at the time of their launch in 1955), the Mark II was improved in nearly every other area when it debuted in October 1959. The car handled better thanks to wider rear track, had more interior space and improved vision thanks to larger windows. Best of all, Jaguar offered a 3.8-litre version of the XK engine with twin S.U. carburettors and a healthy 220bhp on tap, enough to award the Mark II the title of the fastest production saloon in the early 1960s. Not surprisingly, the Mark II had a long and successful career in saloon car racing both in England and here in Australia, with Bob Jane and David McKay two of the exponents to enjoy many good results here. Many a criminal - both on screen (think Michael Caine in Get Carter) and off - made the Mark II their car of choice, as did the law in an effort to keep up. The Mark II has remained one of the most collectible Jaguars of all and a manual with the 3.8-litre engine - like the example on offer here - is particularly coveted.