Description
Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 Litre | 1959
Highlights:
– 3,442 cc twin-cam six-cylinder petrol engine, manual transmission
– Chrome wire wheels with knock-off spinners
– Awarded second prize at a classic car elegance competition
– Kept by the previous owner for around twenty years, bought in Italy
– Cream paintwork over a red leather interior with wood veneer
The seller offers for sale this 1959 Jaguar Mark 1 3.4 Litre, powered by a 3,442 cc twin-cam six-cylinder engine, paired with a manual transmission. It is finished in cream over a red leather interior with wood veneer across the dashboard and the door cappings, and it runs on chrome wire wheels with knock-off spinners. The seller reports that he bought the car in Italy, that the previous owner had kept it for around twenty years, and that it has been awarded second prize at a classic car elegance competition. He also notes one blemish: a small paint blister at the bottom of the right-hand rear door.
The 3.4 Litre, known to everyone since as the Mark 1, was the car that changed what a Jaguar saloon could be. It was the company’s first monocoque, which made it lighter and stiffer than the big Mark VII, and into that compact shell went the 3,442 cc version of the XK twin-cam six. The result was a four-door saloon that would run to well over 190 km/h and could embarrass most sports cars of the day, which is precisely what it went on to do at Silverstone in the hands of Mike Hawthorn and Duncan Hamilton. It also gave the police forces of Britain a car fast enough to be useful and gave bank robbers, according to legend, much the same idea.
Fewer than 40,000 of the 2.4 and 3.4 Litre cars were built between 1955 and 1959 before the Mark 2 replaced them, and the Mark 1 has always lived somewhat in the shadow of its more famous successor. That is changing. The narrower rear track and the smaller glass area give the Mark 1 a heavier, more purposeful look than the Mark 2, and good examples of the 3.4, the engine that gives the car its reputation, are increasingly hard to find.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Technical condition
4 — Very Good. Mechanically solid, with potential for minor servicing.
Overall condition
3 — Good. Might need some mechanical and cosmetic repairs but able to drive on the road.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
