2009-05-08 06:13:05 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 5/8/09
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jaguar-MK-IX-saloon-1960-Jaguar-Mark-Nine-MK-IX-Ford-V8- ...
Current bid $5,000 reserve not met, 1 bid 9 days left in auction.

Sellers description:
1960 Jaguar Mk IX Saloon. The car is currently being used in a limousine service for weddings. Because of this, the car has to present itself very well and be as reliable as possible.

We are selling this Jaguar as we are a little top heavy with Jaguars in our service given the current economic climate, so one must go.

EXTERIOR
This Jaguar is finished in Arctic White over Dove Gray, urethane paint. The white paint is about 8 years old and still looks smooth and shiny and only under close inspection can any flaws be seen. The Dove Grey is about 2 years old and is in excellent condition.

The front and rear windshield rubber seals were replaced when the car was painted and are in good condition as are the door seals.

The bumpers and overriders were rechromed about 8 years ago and are in excellent condition. The rest of the exterior chrome is in good original condition.

All the glass is in good condition with no cracks or delamination, although the driver's side window regulator is very stiff. The doors open and close easily and the hinges are not worn.

The whitewall tires are in almost new condition showing very little wear and they are radials which gives the car more modern handling characteristics rather than the old crossplys. These tires cost us around $1,000 and are worth every penny spent.

INTERIOR
The carpet, headliner, door panels and seats were redone about 7 years ago and are in very good condition showing little wear.

The wood was refinished at the same time and is also still in very good condition.

All the interior lights work, but the clocks are non functioning. The fuel, oil and water guages work, but the speedometer cable broke for the second time last year and we have not repaired it. The tachometer was never hooked up.

The car has a trunk mounted AC system with the condenser under the trunk floor and a Sanden compressor up front. The AC works well.

DRIVETRAIN
When we first purchased the car, it already had been converted to a 351 cubic inch Ford engine and we drove it like this for a few years but it always ran hot in summer. A couple of years ago, we removed the 351 Cleveland engine and installed a Ford 302 cubic engine and the problem was solved. The 302 is backed up with a rebuilt 3 speed Ford automatic transmission and a GM 10 bolt rear end with highway gears. The engine is cooled by a new aluminum radiator and 2 fans.

The Jaguar has a GM brake master cylinder, GM rear brake drums and the original Jaguar front disc brakes. It does not have a power assist, but it still stops well. The steering is stock Jaguar with no power assist.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
This Jaguar accelerates well due to the V8 power train and cruises at highway speeds easily due to the GM rear end.

It tracks well down the road thanks to the modern radial tires. It does not wander or pull to either side.

The brakes stop the car well, but do require some pedal effort. We did think about adding a booster, but as the car is always driven gently, we felt it was unnecessary.

To sum this Jaguar up, it is a very pretty car that looks completely stock and drives very well (we put about 3,000 miles per year on her). This Jaguar has been heavily modified under the skin to give better reliability and cheaper maintenance than a stock Jaguar Mk IX. She would make a great flagship car for a limousine service or a fun, reliable classic Jaguar for a collector who is not looking for a completely stock concours car, but rather a reliable driver that can be enjoyed on a regular basis.