Last weekend, I went to the Mecum auction in Los Angeles and fulfilled a 32-year ambition: acquire a Mark IX. What should I watch out for?

The oldest Jag I've owned was a '69 XJ, which was a decade newer technology (at least) from this 1960 beast. The car seems solid and rust-free. It's running crazy-rich right now, but once that is resolved, I'm anticipating the motor to be smooth-running. What should I be watching for as I'm getting to know this creature?

 

Not many people will have experience of these cars, but the XK150 sports car is almost identical mechanically so look on forums for this car as well.

Your car looks in exceptionally good order, so main thing to check immediately is the state of all the fluids in the car - engine oil, coolant, tranny oil, and brake fluid. Make sure the tyres are not too old. Was the car in use before you bought it ?

 

If it is running rich I would check and see if i could find a hidden choke switch. Some folks disconnect the Otter unit and wire the choke to a switch. Normal operation would be automatic.

 

Beautiful - I haven't seen one in that condition for many years.

Graham

 

Makes me nostalgic. Absolutely love that interior.

 

Nice, Would love to smoke about in that!

 

What a beautiful example of this great car! Most pictures that are posted are of abandoned neglected hulks. I especially love the interior. If this carb set up is like mine, a '51, there is no choke. There is an auxiliary starting carb attached to the front carburetor. There is an electric solenoid that opens up the fuel flow to this enrichening device. Maybe the solenoid has gotten stuck open.

 

So sure enough, there was a hidden switch for an electric choke -- but that wasn't why it was running rich. In fact, that's not even operational at the moment. Carbs were all out of whack, not remotely synch'd, and the rear carb was just simply dumping fuel. I stopped by the mechanic's place the other day after he put on new valve cover gaskets (it was leaking oil like crazy), and he had done an initial setting of the carbs just to get them close to each other, and the engine purred like a big kitten. I can't wait to hear it when he's got the carbs set properly and sync'd.

Meanwhile, new plugs, new oil, some new switch knobs, color-coordinated and age-appropriate seatbelts to make my wife happy, and a check to determine why the brake are squealing so much, and I'll be ready to take it on the road.

I haven't been this happy since the day I got my XJS. Or maybe the day I got my E-Type. Or maybe the day I sold our '61 Rattletrap (I mean, Corvette). It's probably 4-way tie.

 

Hi Fraser, my mechanic has been through it all, and aside from the fact that the oil is looking like it's been thinned with excess fuel, everything looks to be in good order. The RH valve cover gasket was just pouring oil out, but new gaskets on both sides resolved that. The power steering is weeping a bit, so we're going to try some stop-leak before tearing the unit down. The prior long-time owner asserted that it was running well when he sold it last November, but someone bought it and monkeyed with it a bit before I picked it up at the auction. So I'm spending some cash to get it all mechanically tidy and fresh. New tires & brakes, although brakes are screaming so something is obviously wrong there. One day at a time.

 

Congratulations: beautiful car.

My brother had one back in the late 60s and I remember all that glorious wood trim. I'm sure his had a bench front seat as there was a clock in the middle for the rear passengers, and a cigar lighter on each of the 'B' pillars.

Enjoy!

 

Get the maintenance data sheet and stick to it. Bought mine from Ebay, and have manuals. if you keep it up and drive it like a Jag, should last awhile.