1962 Jaguar MKII 3.8 Manual - Charity Auction

Show-condition 1962 Jaguar Mark 2 auctioned with all proceeds donated to Cancer Research UK.

Paint

The silver metallic finish has an excellent lustre and even coverage. The car is generally free of road wear, with minimal scuffs or chips. There is a mild imperfection on the nearside front wing, showing slight marks under the lacquer.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Bodywork

The exterior is excellent, with flush panels, even shut lines and no damage.

Being picky, there is minor misalignment on the offside rear wheel spat, while small cosmetic surface corrosion is present on the nearside front wing arch, the overall condition remains worthy of show standards.

The structure of the car is solid; the underside, floorpan, and chassis rails are clean and protected by a layer of inhibitor. The wheel wells, engine bay, suspension mounts, jacking points and boot floor are in good shape. The doors open without too many issues, although both the nearside doors need a little more force.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in excellent shape, with near-perfect veneer, clear dials, switches and controls.

All are said to work, although the speedometer was reading incorrectly during the test drive.

The rest of the cabin trim, luggage area, door cards and headlining are in excellent shape.

The drive

Jaguar’s legendary twin-cam XK straight-six engine powered five historic Le Mans victories. The 1962 3.8-litre variant represents its absolute sweet spot, highly revered by enthusiasts for its motorsport heritage, robust iron-block reliability, and a beautifully balanced, high-revving reputation that defined British sports car performance.

The engine feels incredibly muscular, pulling effortlessly from as low as 1,500 rpm with a massive wave of mid-range torque, allowing the car to pull away smoothly from second gear. Under acceleration, the engine emits a clean, metallic, and intoxicating straight-six growl through its SU carburettors.

On a smooth open road, the car cruises highly effectively; toggling the overdrive switch instantly drops the revs smoothly for relaxed highway cruising. The steering is well-weighted, being typically heavy when the car is under 20 mph but lightening up significantly once on the move, and it remains entirely free of knocks or wobbles. Furthermore, the car has no problems starting when warm, with both the oil pressure and engine temperature remaining well within comfortable expectations.

Glass and trim

The glass is in good shape, although the seals show mild signs of wear and there is lamination damage on the windscreen.

The lights and lenses are in good shape.

The chrome trim is a particular highlight particularly the bumpers, which underwent a refurb in 2015. We only noticed the rear light mounts and boot lid handle show age-related pitting, but this is cosmetic - the rest of the chrome is in excellent shape,

Wheels and tyres

The 15” wire wheels are in good shape, showing decent, tight spokes and clean spinners.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Blockley tyres, with the front showing a spec of 185/VR/15; these are date-coded from 2019. They all have legal tread and are in good shape.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Seats and carpets

The blue leather seats are in excellent shape, with no wear or signs of age, other than mild creasing on the driver seat.

The carpets are clean and show no significant wear or dampness.

Engine and gearbox

The engine fires up with no sputtering, wobbles, or excessive noises. The engine pitch settles smoothly as it transitions to a normal idle after the choke is switched off. The engine idles smoothly, free of pops or bangs, and other than the expected cold engine condensation from the exhaust, it is free of exhaust fumes. The dashboard ignition lights remained off, and the oil pressure showed a healthy reading of 40 psi, slowly rising to 50 psi as it warmed up.

The engine is clean and well-presented with good hoses and ancillaries. Some of the metal components show mild signs of age, but overall it looks smart, and no fluid leaks were observed on the day of our visit. Furthermore, it benefits from good documentation of engine maintenance in recent years.

The 4-speed manual gearbox operates without any reported faults, engaging gears without resistance. The optional factory Laycock overdrive works seamlessly with a smooth transition. The clutch has a good, mid-point biting point and an excellent feel, enabling straightforward control in both forward and reverse gears.

Electrics and other

George confirms all the electrical items work as expected with just the exception of the clock.

History and paperwork

This UK home-market January 1962 model is a beautifully documented example that was officially re-registered with the DVLA in 1989 - presumable due to the car having spent time out of the country. The car boasts an exceptionally transparent provenance, complete with its rare original buff logbook tracking its first three owners up to 1977, alongside two historic V5 documents confirming a subsequent ownership change in 1993 and the current keeper taking delivery in 1998. George told us he bought the car in 1991 through is company, he then bought it from his company to register it in his own name in 1998, he is unsure where the owner change in 1993 came from as the sales invoice form Desmond Smail who sold him the car is dated September 1991.

Mechanically, the car has received comprehensive attention, with over £12,500 spent in 2024 on a thorough mechanical overhaul including a full carburettor rebuild, a successful compression test, extensive brake work, and a major service, which builds upon £1,500 spent in 2023 on a new fuel pump, an initial carburettor rebuild, and another full service. There is both the invoices and estimates for the work carried out in 2024 in the gallery.

Its comes with a history file that features an early 1990s running in note to suggest an engine rebuild and a sales invoice from the same era, alongside continuous MOT certificates throughout the 1990s, a selection of maintenance invoices running from the late 1990s into the 2010s, and undated photographs chronicling a previous body restoration.

Fully road tax and MOT-exempt, this highly usable classic comes ready for its next chapter, accompanied by its official service manual, original factory handbook, two sets of keys, and a collection of useful spare parts.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Suspension and brakes

The ride is even and comfortable; the suspension handles road surfaces, imperfections, and bumps well, with no ill effects on the car's handling.

All components are in good physical condition.

The car brakes evenly with no negative feedback. Free of squeals, vibrations, or pulling, the servo-assisted Dunlop disc brakes all around inspire real confidence in the overall mechanical durability of the car.

Steering wheel gear stick

The wood-rimmed wheel and gear lever present smartly, in keeping with the excellent impression of the interior.