Lot 606: 1957 Jaguar Mk1 3.4-Litre Saloon

Launched in 1955, the Mk1 extended Jaguar’s domination of the high-performance car market in Britain, slotting neatly into the Coventry firm’s range alongside the big MkVIIM saloon and the XK140 sports car. The medium size newcomer broke new ground for Jaguar, being its first model to employ unitary construction of the chassis/body. Jaguar’s engineers were understandably cautious in their approach, making the bodyshell stronger than in fact it needed to be and employing rubber mountings just about everywhere to insulate occupants from vibration and noise. The Mk1 was released with a new, short stroke, 2.4-litre version of the proven XK ‘six’, but demands for more power, especially from American customers, prompted the introduction of the 3.4-litre version early in 1957. With 190bhp on tap the 3.4-litre Mk1 was good for a top speed of 120mph and could reach 60mph in nine seconds, though if used to the full this greatly improved performance severely taxed the drum brakes. All-round disc brakes were hurriedly announced as an option, becoming an almost universal fitting thereafter. The Mk1 was progressively updated throughout its life before a wholesale revision of the basic design saw it re-launched as the Mk2 in October 1959.
This right-hand drive example was sold new to South Africa and restored there over the course of approximately the past two years, the body being renovated and the interior refurbished with new leather, new carpets and re-veneered woodwork. Finished in British Racing Green with suede green interior, the car has the desirable four-speed manual/overdrive gearbox and is described by the private vendor as in generally excellent condition. Import duties have been paid and the vehicle is offered with MoT to April 2006.