In Brief:

• An elegant and characterful example of Jaguar's 1956 Mark 1 2.4
• Finished in Black with contrasting Red leather interior and walnut trim
• Traditional and unmistakable period Jaguar sports saloon
• Just 2 recorded keepers since 1980
• Extensive and carefully preserved history file

Auctioneer's Notes:

An elegant and highly characterful example of Jaguar’s first compact sports saloon, the 1956 Mark 1 2.4 Litre. Finished in Black with contrasting Red leather upholstery and extensive walnut trim, the car presents with the unmistakable period charm for which these early Jaguars are so well regarded. The exterior retains the traditional narrow Jaguar grille, chrome bumpers and fittings, while the cabin is particularly attractive with its original-style instrumentation, polished timber dashboard and beautifully aged leather. Perhaps most notably, the Jaguar has had just two recorded keepers since 1980, both from the same family, with the first of these retaining the car until it passed into his daughter’s name in 2014.

Maintenance & Condition:

The vehicle is fitted with the 2.4-litre XK straight-six engine coupled to a manual gearbox with Laycock overdrive. At present, the clutch is not operational due to the clutch master cylinder requiring replacement. The Vendor had the slave cylinder replaced shortly before entering the car for auction, after which the master cylinder subsequently failed. It is intended that the master cylinder will be replaced prior to the auction, and the catalogue will be updated accordingly once this work has been completed. The accompanying invoices provide evidence of maintenance undertaken over many years, including ignition system work, carburettor overhaul, fuel filter replacement, brake master cylinder repair and refitting, reconditioning of the rear wheel cylinders, drive belt replacement at approximately 17,000 miles in 2014 and replacement of the rotor arm. Further invoices stretch back as far as 1964, underlining the longevity of the accompanying record.

History:

The history file is a particularly impressive aspect of this Jaguar, with documentation spanning much of the car’s life. The original registered keeper retained the vehicle until his passing, after which ownership was transferred into his daughter’s name in 2014. As a result, the car has had just two recorded keepers from new, both within the same family, giving it a particularly appealing continuity of ownership. Included within the file are old registration and taxation documents, Jaguar Drivers’ Club membership material, RAC tour itineraries, newspaper and magazine cuttings, period show and auction catalogues dating from 1991, Laycock overdrive literature and a vehicle condition report dating from 1966. There is also a collection of period manuals accompanying the car.
A letter to the DVLA records the passing of the first recorded keeper and the subsequent transfer to his daughter, while a Cherished Car Underwriting Agency valuation certificate from 2006 records the car at 17,546 miles with an agreed value of £12,000. Further historical interest comes from a private sale advertisement dating from 2008, which described the Jaguar as having remained with its original keeper until 1980, having at one stage been untouched for approximately 12 years, and showing around 15,570 miles at that time. MOT history is largely present from 1981 onwards, while invoices dating back to 1964 add further depth to what is an unusually comprehensive and long-running record.

The Model:

Introduced in 1955, the Jaguar 2.4 Litre Saloon was the company’s first unitary-construction production car and would later become retrospectively known as the Mark 1 following the arrival of the Mark 2 in 1959. Designed under the direction of Sir William Lyons, it combined Jaguar’s established sporting character and luxury appointments in a more compact four-door saloon. Power came from a 2,483cc version of Jaguar’s celebrated twin-overhead-camshaft XK straight-six engine, producing approximately 112bhp and giving performance that was notably strong for a compact luxury saloon of the period. The model combined independent front suspension with a live rear axle and, in early examples such as this, hydraulic drum brakes. Inside, the extensive use of leather, polished timber and traditional Smiths instrumentation gave the Mark 1 the unmistakable ambience of its larger Jaguar stablemates. Today, the early 2.4 Litre is increasingly appreciated not only for its importance in Jaguar history, but also for its wonderfully period styling and rarity when compared with the later Mark 2.

Sale Insight:

A particularly appealing early Jaguar whose two recorded keepers have both been members of the same family, giving it a level of continuity rarely encountered. The extensive history file, manuals, period documentation and records dating back to the 1960s add considerable provenance, while the attractive Black over Red colour combination suits the model exceptionally well. Subject to the intended replacement of the clutch master cylinder before the auction, this represents an interesting opportunity to acquire a handsome and historically significant early Jaguar with a remarkably well-documented past.

Estimate:
£6,500 - £7,500