Lot Ended
Description
Upraded to 3.8 spec; only 16k miles since full restoration; recent
respray; manual overdrive; power steering; leather interior; four owners,
the current since 2012; runs beautifully; driven to the sale; what a
cracker!
First registered in
Staffordshire in February 1968, this lovely Jaguar 340 comes with a vast file of
invoices extending back to the late 1980s when it was owned by a Mr M Hill of
Burton-on-Trent. Only the second owner of the car, he treated it to a total
nut-and-bolt restoration which took over 10 years to complete with over £10,000
spent on parts alone, a considerable sum back then, being more than an excellent
example was worth.
This included fitting a fully
rebuilt 3.8 engine, along with all new brakes and suspension and power steering.
Treated to a bare metal repaint in Old English White, it also got a blue leather
interior (in place of the Ambla original) and all the woodwork was
refurbished.
In 2000 he got an agreed value
insurance from Footman James of £11,000, the form he completed giving the car an
A+ grade in every department and stating: “The car has been completely
restored like new… she is my pride and joy… runs like new… the only thing that
stops her being concours is the non-original engine”.
At this point the
car was showing c.9,000 miles and there are 21 old MOTs to show that it has only
covered around 16k miles since, the odometer currently showing 24,600
miles.
Mr Hill finally sold it in
2011, the next owner being well-known classic car journalist Martin Buckley, who
put a new set of tyres on the car and kept it for a year before selling it to
our vendor in March 2012 when it was showing 21,300 miles. "I remember it well,"
Martin tells us, "It went like the clappers"!
Our vendor has
looked after the car assiduously, with dozens and dozens of invoices on file for
routine service items. He tells us that he has also fitted electronic ignition,
new carpets, new front tyres and converted the oil filter to a
spin-off type. Although there is no invoice for this, it was also treated to a
professional repaint last year which looks great. We are told that it
drives as well as it looks with the overdrive working as it
should.
Driven some 30 miles to the
sale, it has been starting promptly and running beautifully as we have moved it
around on site, with light power steering, effective brakes and a sweet engine
with good 40psi oil pressure. An original factory workshop manual is included,
along with an SNG Barratt parts catalogue.
As you can see in the photos,
it looks very smart indeed, both above and below, with nice shiny paintwork, a
pleasingly mellowed interior and gleaming chrome wire
wheels.
On offer here at a very modest
guide price, this 3.8-equipped manual overdrive 340 will have no trouble keeping
up with modern traffic and is ready for a proud 5th owner to enjoy.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
james.dennison@brightwells.com