VISION
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
JAGUAR MK2
Goodwood Revival is an eclectic event on the motoring calendar, and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the XK engine, the team of experts Jaguar Classic restored and entered a 1963 Jaguar Mk2 for a full weekend of racing at the iconic track.
Classic Defender V8 | By Works Bespoke
THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC 4X4, MADE BESPOKE.
JAGUAR MK2
RESTORED TO 1963 STANDARDS
The team was headed up by JLR Classic Engineering Manager, Simon Braithwaite - alongside Engineering Apprentice, Connor Heath, Advanced Apprentice James Barrett, and ex-Jaguar Heritage Technician, Richard Mason.
Sourced and acquired in early 2024, the dark blue car – ‘XMC 719A’ – underwent a full restoration by the team to race at Goodwood Revival, and the goal behind its overhaul was to restore it to original 1963 standards, but with a full track setup.
Over the weekend, the car placed well on the grid – qualifying as fastest Mk2 in the wet on Friday - alongside other more highly-tuned competitors.
“Achieving it becomes a real sort of family event – the guys have done brilliant things with this car,” said Richard.
“A classic car is a lot more about what you know to look for, so I'd say there's more skill in it compared working on newer cars. It’s been incredible to learn from some of the older guys on the team that have worked on these things for many years,” said Connor.
JAGUAR MK2
THE FUTURE OF MK2 RESTORATIONS
Everything, from the 3.8 litre XK engine to the race spec brakes and suspension, were finely tuned by the specialist team to act as a development car for future Mk2 restoration projects and to also bring the younger members of the team, James and Connor, up to speed on the older engine designs.
“There are so many avenues we can go down with a Mk2 restoration. We can turn them into anything a customer likes, whether it be a race-prepped original like XMC 719A, or a modernised car for the road. It’s projects like this that show how talented the JLR Classic team is,” said Simon.
Engine
5.0 litre petrol V8
Power
405 hp
Torque
515 NM
Wheels
16 inch
BRITISH CRAFTMANSHIP
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A STATE-OF-THE-ART-UPLIFT
In our purpost-built Classic Works Facility, our team of engineers blend traditional craftmanship with modern technology to create bespoke vehicles by hand.
Classic Defender V8 | By Works Bespoke
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