Jaguar Mk2 2.4
Grant introduces the Jaguar saloon that he’s owned for nearly a decade
1965 JAGUAR Mk2 2.4
I only took custody of my Jaguar Mk2 nine years ago, but it has been in the family since 1979. My father-in-law bought it from a dealer in Jersey, which was selling it on behalf of the original owner’s family; the car had travelled just 5775 miles from new on the tiny nine-mile-long island.
It then spent the next 30 years (covering a mere 800 miles) on display in a West London showroom and in storage, until I winched it onto a lowloader in the summer of 2009. It faced the MoT tester each year, but I have doubled the mileage – and loved every minute of it – since taking possession.
She’s the baby model, a 2.4 in ‘Billy Basic’ trim – so no assisted steering, and an original Moss gearbox. Jaguars of this vintage aren’t cheap to maintain but sourcing parts from the likes of David Manners has paid dividends; it has never let me down.
The only repair that has required outside assistance was a clutch replacement in 2016. With the 2.4 model it’s an engine-out job and that hurt a bit at £1200. Distributor Doctor fitted an electronic system using my original distributor when I first took charge of the Mk2; the points proved unreliable and almost impossible to access, so it was worth another £400 outlay.
I replaced the front discs and fitted a new piston into the nearside Dunlop caliper, but the rears just needed new pads and a clean. The brake pedal had begun to feel ‘notchy’. Low miles and moisture contamination had turned the once golden liquid into a dirty black at the base of the master cylinder. So a full bleed and fluid replacement was in order.
Greasing the propshaft, steering and suspension ball joints while the wheels were off instantly improved the ride quality, but the air filter housing had excess movement due to the failure of its securing bracket, which is held tight by a single head bolt. After ten minutes with the MIG welder and a coat of satin black, it was refitted and the head bolt torqued down correctly.
The next task will be an oil change. It’s a messy job on a Mk2 with the OE paper element; I never seem to be able to get the rubber seal to fit as it should.
Still, I’ll be putting a few more miles on the old black cat after a full service and a through valet.