Just three owners from new, the first for 30 years and the second for 36 years; sympathetically restored in the early 1990s and carefully maintained since; recent new clutch kit, tyres and brake discs; electronic ignition; stainless steel exhaust; inertia reel seatbelts; gorgeous red leather interior; lots to love about this one! Known simply as the Jaguar 2.4-Litre, the new saloon that Sir William Lyons launched in 1955 was Jaguar’s first venture into monocoque construction, moving away from the heavy separate chassis of the larger MkVII.

This made the car lighter, stiffer and more agile, setting the stage for the hugely popular MkII which replaced it at the start of the Sixties.The 2.4 was powered by a short-stroke version of the XK120’s twin-cam straight-six which produced 112bhp and could launch to car to 60mph in 14 seconds on its way to a top speed of 102mph.

The early cars had drum brakes but in late-1957 disc brakes were available as an option, fitted to all four wheels – cut...