Jaguar 240
Minor fettling should make this late Jaguar Mk2 the belle of the ball once classic car shows resume, reckons David Simister
Undated paperwork in this late 240’s history folder shows that it has had more than £15k lavished on its cosmetics in previous years and it looks as though that work has held up well in the ensuing years.
A small area of bubbling paintwork on the edge of the front passenger door will need to be tackled sooner rather than later but the Old English White paintwork is still in good order, with an even finish and no signs of overspray or microblistering.
The sills, doors, wings and pillars all appear to be in solid condition. There’s a little brake dust on the otherwise unmarked 15-inch wire wheels, which are shod with matching Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres, all of which have plenty of tread remaining. The brightwork is in good condition and there are no cracks in the light lenses or windows.
The interior was refreshed as part of the car’s restoration and the seats trimmed in a recent-looking unmarked black leather. The carpets are in similarly good condition with no fraying or discolouration. The walnut veneer on the dashboard and door cappings is undamaged and the top of the dashboard has suffered no ultraviolet discolouration. The aftermarket threespoke wooden wheel is in good condition but some of the instruments were replaced as part of the previous work, so it’s best to assume that the current odometer reading isn’t a true reflection of this six-owner car’s actual total mileage.
There are no signs of seeping oil in this 240’s generally tidy engine bay. An absence of emulsion on the underside of the oil filler cap bodes well and the dipstick reveals that it’s at the correct level and a healthy golden colour. The auxiliary components, radiator and HT leads all appear to be in good condition and there are no tell-tale remnants of the car overheating on previous occasions. Flick through the car’s history folder and you’ll see plenty of receipts from Jaguar specialists and a string of advisory-free older MOT certificates.
This 240 fires up without hesitation and idles well. Once on the move the oil pressure gauge gives a consistently healthy 50psi readout. The clutch is a little on the heavy side but engages with no slipping or juddering; there are no jolts, whines or jumping out of gear from the four-speed transmission and the overdrive works correctly. There are no unsettling rattles or jolts from the suspension over rougher stretches of asphalt but the test drive does reveal one or two niggles. The car pulls slightly to the left under braking; there’s also some notable wind noise from the passenger side and the speedometer needle flickers erratically.
Not far short of £28,000 is at the upper end of what you’d pay for a 240, but it’s worth considering this example in light of its general condition and how well it drives overall. It’s already had virtually all of the hard work done on it, so it’s a perfect contender for when shows start to open their doors again.