"Some cars simply don’t fit the sales profile that we all use as a measure. That additional attention to detail that costs far more than you will ever get back and, in fact, the opportunities available for particular models far outweigh the standard parameters for normal road cars. The Mk. I saloon from Jaguar is just such a car. Good quality examples are well built and good to drive, additionally, the competition variations are hugely desirable and race often at gold-standard events such as the St. Mary’s trophy at the Goodwood Revival and the Transatlantic Trophy at Silverstone Classic.
Presented here is a car, originally sold to Richard Arthur Zimmer from the US and used for one summer in the UK before exporting the car to New York and then over to California. Existing is all paperwork and service bills during that time. It was then sold on to his family in 1989 and in the ensuing two years in discussions with the DVLA, it acquired the original registration back in 1959.
Our vendor acquired UKV 514 in 2001 as a ‘forever’ car. His first order of business was to spit the car into constituent parts. The body was taken back to bare metal and soda-blasted in places as required. The panels were found to be sound throughout and the car was subsequently painted in gloss black. Whilst the engine and gearbox were out, they were both rebuilt and upgraded from automatic to a Mk. II manual unit with overdrive with synchromesh on first. A new radiator has been fitted along with new brake lines, discs, pads, reconditioned callipers and stainless steel exhaust. The wheels are now wires and painted to match the body. The interior trim, seating and headlining was completely replaced by specialist, Mark Webber, in the original factory red leather. The bumpers are also original and re-chromed. The overall effect of this is accentuated with stainless steel Coombes spats. An extremely good-looking Jaguar, well built and with an excellent history. Race or road, it is used regularly and looks and drives superbly."