Jaguar Mark Vspecial

A Jaguar roadster, but one which didn't see the light of day at Brown's Lane in Britain. This glorious roadster was the creation of an English craftsman David Whiting in a country garage and workshop in South East Queensland at a business conducted by David and known as Heritage Motors Jondaryan, some one hundred and seventy miles west of Brisbane. The car itself started life as a 1949 Mark V sedan and was in a tired rundown condition when its restoration commenced. David Whiting was already well known in Jaguar circles in Queensland for the work done by him in the creation of a D-type replica during the late 1980s (which was the subject of a detailed article in the March/May edition of Sports and Classic Cars Australia in 1988), and at the time of commencement of the restoration of this Mark V special, he was engaged in the restoration of approximately six XK vehicles in his workshop. To create this superb Mark V roadster, he took the tired Mark V sedan, removed the body, shortened the chassis some 18 inches and then strengthened it, took away the sedan body from the front windscreen back, kept the glorious sweeping guards and running boards, then created a two-seater body with a square petrol tank on the rear. He then installed a completely rebuilt 4.2 motor from a 1967 E-type (which he obtained from America) , including triple SU carburettors and gold head, and added wire wheels (from a Series III E type). To the best of my knowledge, David told me that the original torsion bar suspension was retained in the front , while all braking was Series II XJ6, the rear brakes being inboard. The gearbox is a four-speed Moss gearbox, and an independant rear end from an S-type sedan was installed. The walnut dash was taken from a 'Mk I' sedan and modified to fit. To complete the transformation, an Austin Healey windscreen was fitted, along with a quality paint job, leather seats, and carpeted interior. A soft top was manufactured and racing harness anchor points were installed to enable David to race the car at Leyburn (where he won or was placed on many occasions) and Speed on Tweed. Although the motor in the car was originally rebuilt in the early 1990s by David, he continually worked on the vehicle until ill health brought about the car's sale to me in 2006. At the time of sale, the motor had done 10602 miles, and the odometer now shows 11318 miles. Since I bought it, the car's main outings have been to car shows in Toowoomba , Brisbane and Noosa. Since I have owned the vehicle, the main work I have had carried out has been to the front end, the steering, the carburettors, and a new starter motor was installed in 2008. The car itself is wonderful. It looks superb, it is exceptionally quick (as you would imagine), and handles well, and its sound on the road is magnificent. The car is a tribute to the ability of David Whiting and I would hope that any subsequent owner would continue to appreciate the vehicle as much as I have. As part of the package for sale, I have a series of some 90 photographs taken during the restoration, together with newspaper articles about David Whiting and his work at Heritage Motors, and a DVD which showed a television interview with him. The car was also highlighted in an article in Australian Jaguar Magazine Edition 64 (1995) and this magazine and Sport and Classic Cars Australia March/May 1988 are included in the sale. I believe that the car, as a 'one-off' vehicle, would compare favourably in price with E-types , XKs and big Healeys in similar condition and any buyer would be content in the thought that he had acquired a 1990s vehicle with all of the character of one from the 1930s , which is what David had in mind when he created the car. As the car has been advertised for sale elsewhere, I reserve the right to remove the vehicle from sale on this site at any time. As the car is road registered in Queensland, a roadworthy certificate will be available if sold in Queensland. For anywhere else in Australia, I will sell the vehicle unregistered. NOTE: (8.7.2014): I have now removed the RESERVE amount. There is now no reserve on this vehicle and one bid may buy it. NOTE FURTHER: (16.7.2014: For the last day of the auction, I have reduced the opening bid to $46,000. There is still NO RESERVE. One bid may buy the car.

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