Description
Offered for sale is a beautiful, extremely original, completely rust-free Jaguar Mark X Saloon with a rare manual 4-speed transmission with overdrive. Introduced just a few short months after the E-Type, the Mark X was the first model to bear the iconic modern Jaguar fascia that that the company would perpetuate for nearly 50 years, all the way through their saloon lines through 2009. It was the last Jaguar model to feature extensive interior woodwork and was opulently designed to primarily service the ostentatious U.S. market of the day. For that reason, a vast majority of Mark Xs built – especially left hand drive cars – utilized automatic transmissions, so finding 4-speed manual variants with overdrive is infrequent. This is particularly true of rust-free, low mileage, aesthetically gorgeous California cars in fantastically original condition.
The Opalescent Silver Blue finish is in great shape, consistent and lustrous and marred only by minor imperfections (a quarter inch scratch and a soft depression on the driver side fender, a subtle scratch on the sunroof), none of which are significant enough to detract from the car’s overall appeal or even really appear in the photographs. All of the panels are straight with fantastic panel fits and gaps and there’s no obvious evidence of any accidents. The original glass is in great shape and the chrome is in very good condition, free of any serious wear or dings (with the exception of a soft ding on the driver side rear bumper guard). The car was always garaged and cared for, and its body and undercarriage are therefore entirely free of rust or any evidence of rust repair. The original color matched steel wheels with chromed hubs are wrapped in white-wall tires with plenty of remaining tread. The car’s sumptuous red interior is in equally beautiful condition. The leather seats are original and show hardly any wear whatsoever and the same is true of the interior panels and carpets. The extravagant wood dash, inlays and rear picnic trays are also in fantastic original condition and the grey felt headliner is taut and clean. The trunk is original, clean and retains its original spare tire, tool kit and jack.
The legendary, tried and true Jaguar 3.8L inline six cylinder engine starts easily, idles consistently and pulls strongly and smoothly through each of the four manual gears. After inspecting the familiar tell-tales, our mechanic believes the 49k miles showing on the odometer to be true. A new clutch helps the transmission and overdrive work as they should and the same is true of the brakes, stopping the car as straight and true as it drives. The Mark X was Jaguar’s first saloon to use an independent rear suspension, designed to improve an already luxurious ride quality. Driving this big cat is an absolute joy, whether tooling comfortably through town or cruising down the highway, and the timeless lines, rich interior appointments and sheer size ensure that the car I always perceived as a true luxury saloon, as evidenced by the up-front parking spots it always receives from valets. Currently, we can’t think of a more beautiful or solid vintage saloon that still remains accessibly priced. With all vintage Jaguar values appreciating significantly and the inventory of beautiful, rust-free, numbers matching examples remaining surprisingly low, it’s only a matter of time before prices of the elegant Mark X begin to rise to uncomfortably high levels.
