Paul M. Novak's 1957 Jaguar MK VIII Restoration
My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons)
Read the full write-up at My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons) ↗
Photo: My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons)A 1957 Jaguar MK VIII brought back to life after 45 years parked
Paul M. Novak describes resuming restoration of his 1957 Jaguar MK VIII, a car that had been parked since 1975 and which he acquired in 2005. The thread covers the car's repaint in 2012, the removal of the original engine and parts for a machine shop rebuild in 2020, and some forum discussion on correct air cleaner parts for these cars.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Paint
- Two-tone Pearl Grey and Old English White
- Air cleaner
- Vokes D59182 Air Cleaner and Silencer Assembly, Jaguar part number C12496, fitted when car was acquired
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Fuel & Ignition 1
- Vokes D59182 Air Cleaner and Silencer AssemblyVokes
Fitted to the car when Novak acquired it; identified via the MK VIII parts catalogue as part number C12496
In the shops
Air Cleaner Assembly ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $774.58 USD
Photos
24 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons). A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
My 1957 MK VIII Restoration 16this post at My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons) ↗
My 1957 MK VIII Restoration 8this post at My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons) ↗
How it was done
Starting condition
The car arrived at Novak's house in 2005 after the prior owner had parked it in 1975. A 2005 photo shows its condition on arrival.
Earlier work
By 2012 the car had been repainted in a two-tone Pearl Grey and Old English White scheme, a color choice inspired by fellow owner Tom Brady's similar MK IX, after Novak considered but decided against the green seen on the MK VIII used in the film Vertigo.
Restarting the restoration
Work had slowed while Novak attended to his other Jaguars. In 2020, after selling two Series III XJ6s, he freed up garage space and funds to resume the MK VIII project, sending the original block, head and numerous engine parts, along with parts from spare engines, to a machine shop for rebuilding.
Parts identification discussion
Forum members discussed the correct air cleaner and intake setups used across MK VII, VIIM, VIII and IX models, with Novak identifying the Vokes assembly fitted to his own car via the parts catalogue, though exact year applicability remained unclear.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at My 1957 MK VIII Restoration (Jag-lovers Saloons) ↗