1965 Jaguar Mark II - Reader Resto

By: Anthony Grech with Guy Allen - Words & Photos

Date: 25.04.2023

Years ago, Anthony was going to buy a Falcon GT but he was seduced by this curvaceous feline instead

Tackling a Jaguar restomod on a tight budget sounds like a major challenge, but this owner got there in the end For owner/builder Anthony Grech, this Mark 2 Jaguar is the project that was more or less completed in just a year a couple of decades ago but never left his workshop. Even now, he points out little jobs he wants to have a crack at when he can find the time.

The story goes back some years when we all were a fair bit younger. "I had a few cars as a young bloke," explains Anthony, "Such as a Falcon Superbird coupe which I sold for $1000. I used to go across the road and talk to this older bloke who owned a Jag. I’d look at it and think how good it was: twin overhead cam, aluminium head, four-wheel disc brakes – so much better. I was going to buy a GT Falcon but ended up going this way."

What a stunner. Proves you can restore a classic Jag on a tight budget

While stitching together a Jaguar of his own sounded like a brilliant plan, there was the issue of money. With four kids to feed, it was important the job was done on a tight budget. A host car turned up in the form of a 1965 Mark 2, running a 2.4lt engine with automatic transmission.

That was a long way from the spec envisioned by the new owner. It’s now hosting a 3.8lt six with triple carburettors, a manual transmission with overdrive, limited-slip diff and various other goodies such as a 420 front end and XJ6 brakes.

After a year of hard yakka, it looks like this

That sounds simple enough until you get your head around what’s required to piece all this together. Some four or more cars ended up donating parts, including another Mark 2 for its manual floor pan, which is different to the auto.

Without doubt, the showpiece on this car is the powerplant, which was pinched from an unsuspecting Mark 10. Anthony bought the bigger car, took what he needed, and sold off the remainder. He says that back then second-hand Jaguar parts were fetching good money, so wrecking one and moving on the remainder made good economic sense.

| Reader Ride: 1962 Jaguar MkII

Jag’s hallmark 3.8lt six with triple carbs is a tight fit

The 3.8 motor was rebuilt with the assistance of a mate who ran engine reconditioning at Batman TAFE in Melbourne. Adding the triple carburettors was something of a trial, as space in the engine bay is severely limited. In the end, Anthony had to modify the under-bonnet panels and move components such as the pedal box and even the windscreen wiper motor.

Speaking of mods, the Mark 10 ran a generator with the power steering mounted on the back. That was changed out for an alternator and a separate power steering pump now custom mounted with its own pulley and brackets.

Since we’re on the topic of steering, Anthony’s brother had got hold of a nice Daimler that had been hit in the rear – that car donated the Variomatic power steering and was moved on. With that in place, the Jaguar also scored 420 uprights and a beefed-up swaybar.

The transmission turned out to be a bit of a trial as the ‘reconditioned’ unit he bought failed on the first drive. There was no budget for a replacement, so Anthony bought the parts out of the UK, regularly getting on the phone with the supplier for advice and tackled the rebuild himself.

And the project starts now

Panel work was done at home, with Anthony making the most of a TAFE course on body repair and fabrication. He also did the paint – well, at least the first time. Long after the car was on the road, he fell through a ceiling while working in the roof of his house. And yes, he landed on top of the Jaguar. As luck would have it, the car was well-insured and repaired by pros.

Life kind of got in the way for a while and the car was parked for the best part of a decade. When it was pulled out, the fuel system needed a thorough clean out as the ageing unleaded petrol had caused some chaos. Nevertheless, the damage could have been worse and it’s happily up and running again.

Triple carbs for plenty of go

Anthony has a track record of restoring a string of cars, motorcycles and boats over the years, all but one of which have been moved on. Why save the Jaguar? "There’s a sentimental attachment to it," he admits. "We used to have the four kids strapped in the back (it was fitted with extra seatbelts) and take them to the Hanging Rock car show – you couldn’t do that now, but it was a sight." Coincidentally, we came across the car and its owner on the way to this year’s show, this time with just one ‘kid’ (now an adult) on board.

So what’s it like to drive? "It’s like a 1965 car," Anthony laughs. Which is fair enough, though it clearly is a relatively quick one and a bit special.

As for the chrome bumper Falcon GT he almost bought instead, well there’s now a body in the garage getting the full treatment...

Original car: 1965 Jaguar Mark 2
Owner: Anthony Grech
Length of restoration: 1 year (sort of)

THE RESTO:

On the spit

Jag got the rotisserie treatment.

Parts bin

Donor MK10 3.8lt engine was used.

Making room

Under bonnet fabrication

I see a Mk2 Jag

And I want it painted white.

Sitting pretty

Is this gonna be mine Dad?

S‌hiny and complete

Chrome and wire wheels complete it.

Want to feature your car in Reader's Resto? Email details to: uniquecars@primecreative.com.au

From Unique Cars #476, March 2023

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