Prior to the Mk I and its Mk II evolution, Jaguar had only offered two models: a two-seater sports car and a large sedan. Thus, the 1955 compact 2.4-litre Mk I represented a new category of Jaguar. Although it was smaller, it offered the traditional Jaguar qualities of grace, space, and pace thanks to its sophisticated – and Le Mans-winning – twin-cam XK engine.

As a newer design, it was more advanced than even the company’s sports cars, being Jaguar’s first unitary construction car and employing coil-spring rather than torsion-bar front suspension. The car was significantly improved over time, with the addition of disc brakes, 3.4- and 3.8-litre engines, and a substantial technical and cosmetic upgrade with the Mark II in 1959. The car’s performance and dimensions made it extremely successful in motor sports and it is arguably the world’s first sport sedan.

This 1966 Jaguar Mk II, featuring the 9:1 compression ratio, 3.8-litre engine and synchromesh gearbox with overdrive, represents the most desirable variant of the model. It is a highly-original, two-owner example acquired by Mr. Pollock from the original owner’s estate in 2006. He immediately set about performing a mechanical restoration over a two-year period, overseen by John Maloney at Autosport Seattle. This car’s extensive documentation, configuration, originality, provenance, and presentation distinguish it as an ideal example for the discerning buyer.