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Brian, Your timing is good because I have been delving into the subject because of the restoration of RHD Mk2 3.4 chassis #3 and #4 by owner Geoff Widdicombe in Queensland (Australia). Both cars in are in very good original condition, and I am sure they are the two oldest surviving Mk2s in existence. W are following their refurishment in our magazine I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time over the years going through Jaguar's build books for just these sorts of reasons, and they tell us that the first Mk2s were built thus: 2.4 RHD #1 20.8.1959 - Maroon with Grey, sold to Henlys LHD #1 25.8.1959 - Cotswold Blue with Grey, sent to Nice 3.4 RHD #1 15.7.1959 - Indigo with Grey, sold to Henlys LHD #1 3.9.1959 - Pearl Grey with Black, to Delecroix in France 3.8 RHD #1 18.9.1959 - BRG with Suede Green, Earls Court Show car, sold to John Surtees in 1961 by factory LHD #1 (no date but was converted to RHD at factory, chassis #2 not built) - chassis #3 first date, 18.8.1959 sent to USA Amazingly, 45 of the first 51 RHD 3.4s built were sent to Australia, mostly to Bryson Industries whose owner, Jack Bryson was a very good friend of Sir William. When Jack Bryson died in 1971 Sir William wrote: "I have not had the pleasure of knowing many Australians, but I have been fortunate enough to have had a close business and personal relationship with Mr Jack Bryson for the past 30 years. He was a man of outstanding integrity. His friendliness and desire to help others was a characteristic which singled him out amongst other men. He possessed, in full measure, the shrewdness and capacity for hard work. His contribution to the growth of British car sales, and those of Jaguar in particular, was very considerable indeed, and in his passing Britian has lost one of its most devoted and loyal supporters." Pretty amazing words from the normally reserved Sir William, so it is no surprise that Bryson Industries got the vast majority of those 45 3.4 Mk2s which came to Australia in the first couple of shipments (in 1949 he had received XK120 RHD #2 and close on one third of all alloy RHD XK120s). Now we are trying to track down many of those other very early Mk2 3.4s in Australia because with the very mild weather (no salt on any roads etc.) most bodies don't rust baly in Australia, and know too that Geoff Widdicombe has #48 and #19 has recently been sent back to England by the brother of a fellow who lives in Brisbane and owned it for seven or eight years. All of those cars mentioned were sold by Brysons in Sydney. Above are Pictures #3 and #4 as they January 1999, just for the sake of posterity and interest. I will collect that beer one day Brian! Kindest regards LES. HUGHES THE JAGUAR MAGAZINE
http://www.ecn.net.au/~jagmag/ Last Update 9 January 1999 |
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