Long before BMW rolled out the 5 Series and Nissan introduced the PGC10 Skyline GT-R, the Leaping Cat of Coventry launched the superb-looking MK1. The sportiest sedan of that era was replaced by the even sportier MK2 in 1959, which Jaguar also sold under the 240 and 340 monikers.
A true Jag from a time when Sir William Lyons was running the show, the MK2 could be had with a 3.8-liter engine that Jaguar has also used in the E-Type Series 1. However, due to its curb weight and worse aerodynamics, the MK2 3.8-Litre simply didn't stand a chance against the XK-E in a straight line.
That changed when British racing driver, team owner, and entrepreneur John Coombs entered the scene with race-proven enhancements for the MK2 with the largest of three inline-six engines. Anything between 30 to 40 examples of the breed are believed to have been modified by Coombs, and the 3.8-Litre offered by Iconic Auctioneers isn't one of those sought-after cars. The history of chassis number 233517 isn't known prior to 1992, the year a gentleman by the name of Vann purchased it.
Three Point Four, which is currently the UK's leading De Tomaso specialist and restorer, immediately started restoration work. Completed in 1997, the stately machine had its 3.8-liter six rebuilt, balanced, and tuned to perfection. Fed by two SU carburetors as opposed to three units for the E-Type 3.8-Litre, the sedan also received new shock absorbers from Koni, a front anti-roll bar, uprated coil springs for the front end, Coombs-like chromed wire wheels, and Coombs-like rear wheel arches.
Highlights further include period-style chromed mirrors, a wood-rimmed steering wheel from British company Moto-Lita, as well as a Pioneer stereo. Retrimmed by Suffolk & Turley at some point after 1997, the Jag remained with Vann for the better part of two decades. The current owner purchased it back in 2020 for a cool £51,750 or something like $64,595 at current exchange rates.
Photo: Iconic Auctioneers
Storaged for nearly four years, HPA 700C retains the original registration number from 1964. Offered at no reserve by Iconic Auctioneers, the Dark Blue-painted saloon is rocking 87,080 miles (140,142 kilometers) on the odo. It's not clear if said miles were clocked between 1997 or 1964 and the present day, but in any case, it ticks all the right boxes.
Because it's not an original Coombs, the MK2 3.8-Litire before your eyes is expected to fetch £30,000 to £40,000 at the Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars 2024. That's around $37,450 to $49,950 for a tasteful classic that needs little in the way of recommissioning, a sedan that makes the current-day XF look vulgar by comparison.
Similar to how William Lyons-era Jaguar entered a period of uncertainty and poor decisions after it came under the control of British Leyland Motor, the Jaguar of 2024 is facing a watershed moment of its own. The British automaker controlled by Tata Motors will stop making internal combustion vehicles by the month of June, redirecting its resources to electric vehicles based on the Jaguar Electric Architecture.
The first of three JEA-based models will come in the form of a four-door grand tourer by the end of 2024, with deliveries expected to start in 2025. To be priced at £100,000 or close to $125,000 at current exchange rates, the newcomer has to be an excellent vehicle in order to reestablish Jaguar as a force to be reckoned with among premium automakers. Unfortunately, a sports sedan à la the MK2 and prior MK1 is likely out of the question due to increasing demand for SUVs.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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