The successful run of Jaguar sedans in the 1950s and ‘60s started with the Mark I. The model had only a brief shelf life between 1955 and 1959.
The Mark 1 was a popular car but gave way to the even more popular Mark II. This pristine example for sale on eBay has only 8,706 miles on the odometer. It has been beautifully preserved (not restored) by its owner since 2019. The black sedan is offered with a $30,000 Buy-It-Now price in Milwaukee.
It’s A Survivor
The Jaguar was in a private collection and unused for 39 years, hence the low mileage. The owner says:
Storage was kind to it. Except for the wire wheels, nothing has been detailed on this vehicle.
The chrome sparkles, albeit with a few scratches and dings. The sedan’s British drawing-room ambiance is hard to replicate in a restoration.
It would be hard to find a better example of this British sports saloon, and black is a good color. There are some holes, possibly from moths, in the beige headliner. The dash wood shows some minor scratches. The black leather seats show some patina, though it adds character. There is surface rust on the chassis.
The 1958 Jag’s condition reflects its time in storage. And the recent work demonstrates that the car is ready to shake off its long slumber.
- Removal, cleaning and resealing the fuel tank
- Cleaning the original carburetors as well as the fitment of a new SU fuel pump
- Fluid and cooling hose renewal, and the fitment of a new generator belt
- Rebuilding of brake calipers and master cylinder, along with fitment of new brake pads and hoses
The car comes with its original owner’s manual, auto transmission instructions, brochures, complete tool kit, and jack. A tachometer is visible in the dash, which indicates this is a “special equipment version.”
Defining the Sports Sedan for the 1950s and 1960s
Jaguar uses the 3.4-liter twin-cam six (as found in this car) in many other vehicles like the later S-Type. That makes them plentiful on the ground.
Shop now for Jaguar 3.4-liter engine parts
A test by The Motor in 1957 yielded a top speed of 119.8 mph and 60 mph in 11.2 seconds for the automatic-transmission version. The four-speed manual and overdrive combination is even quicker, as it reached 60 mph in 9.1 seconds—quite impressive for the time.
Notably, the Mark I was the first Jaguar with unit-body construction, and it combined an independent front suspension with a live rear axle. The biggest gripe about these cars (when they were new) was the narrower-by-4.5-inches rear track, which left the rear end looking slightly pinched. Jaguar corrected the oddity on the Mark II, which also got a larger rear window. But from the front, the Mark I and Mark II are quite similar.
Value Yesterday and Today
The cars were always reasonably priced. A 1957 3.4-liter Jaguar Mark I was around US $4,460 when new. For comparison, consider that a 1958 Corvette would have stickered around $3,600.
Classic.com lists $23,603 as the average for 1958 models now, although the low mileage and exceptional original condition of this one certainly add value.
The knowledge base for maintaining Jaguars is immense. However, there should be no problem keeping this in driving condition for decades to come.
Jaguars always attract a crowd, and the low mileage and remarkable condition of this 1958 Mark I make it a marvelous choice.
