Hello all -

I have an odd situation with my 1961 Mk2 and I'm looking to confirm if its "normal" or not. My '61 is an automatic car, and is LHD, but the gear selector is also on the left, and consequently, the directional switch is on the right. This made for a great first impression when I was buying the car...trying to put it into reverse by turning on the blinker. Is this configuration normal for a LHD MK2?

My '65 is also an automatic LHD, but it has been....erm...."modified a bit" and before I bought it both the column shift and directional switch were missing, so when I replaced the directional switch I just put in on the left as usual and didn't think twice about it (gear shift is a floor shift).

Thanks,
Allan.

 

as I understand it the very early manual transmission MK-2 had the Turn Signal switch on the RIGHT side, and the OVERDRIVE switch on the LEFT side. So it could be correct and your car could be an early build.

This was confirmed by Coventry Foundation when I came across an Aluminium Nacelle with the cutout for the Turn Signal switch on the Right and the O.D. switch on the Left. It appears the early cars had aluminium nacelles, then plastic was used.

 

Hmm - interesting on the aluminum housing. You'd think by '61, none of the cars would be counted as "early" though. I wonder perhaps if someone converted it from RHD, and just used the same steering column.

 

Variability is the norm with early Jags. The more you try to lock down what was standard from Browns Lane the more you realise this. Many concours judges have been embarrassed over the years by this reality. They built the cars with what they had in stock modified over time with learnings as they assembled them, rationalisation of parts with other models & running feedback from the service department & dealer network.

What we do know is that they finally rationalised flasher stalk to the LHS of the column for both LHD & RHD cars. Your car might well have been built the way it is.

 

My 1959 MK2 has the gear shift on the left and the indicators on the right. I had a feeling that this was normal until around 1960 but have lent out the book I had with the list of production changes.

 

There you go! No surprise at all.