Lot 358: 1957 Jaguar Mk VIII Saloon

Although the Jaguar name first appeared on a Swallow Sidecars SS 2-litre saloon at the pre-war 1935 Motor Show at Olympia, the now world famous marque did not become a make in its own right until 1945 when the Blackpool-born and onetime Crossley Motors trainee William Lyons, later knighted, formed Jaguar Cars Limited in Coventry. Both before and after the war, Lyons' stylish motor cars turned heads for combining elegance with real sportiness. His immediate post-war cars were really of pre-war design and were fitted with 4-speed synchromesh gearboxes, mechanical brakes and beam axles. This particular example dates from 1957 and has been repainted in the origional 2 tone Imperial maroon over claret with a grey leather interior and walnut veneer dashboard. Rear picnic tables add to the bench seats and a sliding steel sunroof completes the internal appointment. The origional HMV valve radio is still in-situ and still recieves The Archers once warmed up. 10 years ago, the interior was retrimed along with new carpets,headlining bodywork and paint as required. At the same time, the engine was reconditioned and now also benefits from an unleaded head conversion to enable lead free petrol use. The engine bay and annciliarys have also been more recently serviced and the car is reported to drive very well. SFR 267 is a regular on the rally scene and has also undertaken a number of tours in the last few years. Classic and Sportscar were clearly impressed when they featured it in their September 2004 issue and declared it one of the best saloons of the 1950's. The history file contains various bills detailing refurbishment work carried out in 199, a driver's handbook, an original buff logbook and a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trace Certificate as well as current V5, tax disc and MoT, the latest certificate valid until June 2006.