• This 1967 Jaguar Mk II has so much to offer, including sedan practicality, lashings of chrome, and a lusty straight-six paired to a manual transmission.
• This particular spec is also the ultimate getaway car, the same kind favored by Roy “the Weasel” James, one of the ne’er-do-wells behind the Great Train Robbery.
• Wire wheels with knock-on hubs provide a dash of 1960s elegance, but behind all four of them are disc brakes. The Mk II is elegant, but also easily up to handling traffic on modern roads.
Up for your consideration this week is a U.S.-specification 1967 Mk II in black on red, with the desirable four-speed manual transmission. It’s currently up for auction at Bring a Trailer, which, along with Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.
In addition to its obvious charms, there’s the fact that the Mk II was the favored car of a legendary criminal behind the Great Train Robbery—and of someone even more interesting, larger-than-life actor Robbie Coltrane, who died last week. He had any number of outstanding roles in a long career, from criminal psychologist to nun on the run, but undoubtedly his most beloved portrayal was Rubeus Hagrid, half-giant gamekeeper at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. And in real life, Hagrid was a Jag man.
Coltrane owned many cars, but the one he kept longest was a Jaguar Mk II, equipped with the 3.4-liter engine—not this one that’s up for auction. The Mk II is certainly fit for its purpose as the personal vehicle of a magic gamekeeper. A big trunk offers plenty of room for Griffin Kibbles, and the big, comfy cabin offers a chance to spread out. Also, this thing sprints to 60 mph quicker than a Golden Snitch.
Mk IIs are lovely cars to drive, pairing old-world English elegance with some thoroughly modern engineering. Jaguar fitted these cars with disc brakes at all four corners, and the suspension, while supple, is built for carrying speed. You can think of the Mk II as the family E-type or the bank robber’s special.
Infamous London underworld hotshoe Roy “the Weasel” James was awfully fond of the Mk II. He specifically chose the 3.4L over the 3.8, as he preferred to wind the engine out while scampering down country lanes, the Old Bill in hot pursuit. These cars were used in the successful heist of gold bullion from Heathrow airport, and later in the theft of £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train: the Great Train Robbery.
This example is a later car, and although it can’t claim any celebrities as previous owners, it does include some special features like an optional sunroof. The black paint is especially discreet, but the deep red interior adds a sense of occasion. The twin-carbureted 3.4-liter six is good for 210 horsepower, and it pulls even more authoritatively than the power rating would suggest. Very much a speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick car.
So, whether you are a fan of wizardry, a student of crime, or just someone who appreciates a proper Jag-you-war, here’s your chance. With four days left to go before the auction ends on October 24, bidding sits at $21,000.
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