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1964 Jaguar Mk II with Five-Speed Conversion Heads to Auction
A 1964 Jaguar Mk II 3.4, originally delivered to Bahrain under Jaguar's Personal Export Delivery programme and later restored and modified in the United States, is offered for sale with a five-speed manual transmission and extensive service history.
By Eleanor Ellington · 4 min read
A 1964 Jaguar Mk II 3.4 saloon that was dispatched new to Bahrain and later restored and upgraded in the United States is being offered for sale, carrying a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate and service records dating back to 1993. The car, finished from the factory in Cream, was built in September 1963 and delivered under Jaguar's Personal Export Delivery programme in October that year to a buyer the seller identifies as an executive with the Arabian American Oil Company.
The Mk II remained in Bahrain until the 1980s, when it was shipped to Long Island, New York. A Pennsylvania owner bought the car out of New Jersey in 1993 and commissioned a refresh of the red leather interior alongside a rebuild of the 3.4-litre inline-six by 2005. The current seller acquired the vehicle in 2016 and has since overseen a programme of mechanical and cosmetic improvements aimed at making the classic saloon more usable on modern roads.
Central to that effort is the installation of a Tremec five-speed manual transmission in 2019 by Merryman Modifications of Hanover, Pennsylvania. The original gearbox is included in the sale, along with the removed steering wheel, steering column, air cleaner, distributor and radiator. The engine, rebuilt by Cloverleaf Auto Service of Aston, Pennsylvania, in 2004 at 63,000 miles, benefits from PerTronix electronic ignition, a high-torque starter, an aluminium radiator and K&N air filters for the dual SU carburettors. A stainless-steel exhaust system was fitted at the time of the engine rebuild.
Chassis upgrades include a Moss Motors front suspension kit with coil springs and an anti-sway bar installed in 2021, plus a rear anti-sway bar. Electric power steering from EZ Electric Power Steering was adapted in 2017, and the brake servo, master cylinder and lines were replaced in the years around it. Chrome-finished Dayton 15-inch wire wheels, fitted in 1995, wear Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres replaced in 2024.
The interior retains its red leather upholstery, replaced in 1998–1999 along with the door panels, carpeting and headliner. Burl walnut veneers trim the dashboard, door caps and window frames. A smaller-diameter wood-rimmed steering wheel was installed in 2021. Smiths instrumentation includes a 140-mph speedometer, a 6,000-rpm tachometer and central auxiliary gauges for water temperature, oil pressure, fuel level and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 74,000 miles, approximately 11,000 of which were added under current ownership. The seller notes that the clock inset in the tachometer is inoperative and the Blaupunkt push-button radio has poor reception.
Exterior details include driving lights, a Leaper hood ornament, fender-mounted side mirrors, a pop-up cowl vent, rear wheel spats and dual exhaust outlets. The car was repainted in the 1980s, and in 2020 the trunk lid was repaired and repainted after an SUV bumped the rear, with a taillight lens and stainless-steel rear bumper replaced at the same time. A flashing third brake light now sits above the rear license plate in place of the factory reverse light. The seller discloses paint checking, touched-up stone chips and rust bubbling at the rear portion of the driver-side front wheel arch.
The Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate lists serial numbers, factory colours, distribution through M&A Kooheji in Bahrain and a manufacture date of 10 September 1963. The car is offered with service records since 1993, a shop manual, removed parts, a tool kit, a car cover and a Pennsylvania title carrying an Antique Vehicle brand.
