Mark Benton purchased an old farm with the intention of demolishing it. His main interest was the land itself, but before beginning any work, he decided to inspect the contents of the barn located on the outskirts of the property.
As he pushed open the creaking gates, he was completely unprepared for what he saw. Sitting inside was one of the rarest and most expensive cars in the world, a model manufactured in 1959. That year, Jaguar introduced the Mark 2 sedan, an unusual release for the company at the time. The goal was to expand their customer base by offering a vehicle that combined luxury with high performance.
The Jaguar Mark 2 was equipped with the same engine as the Jaguar XK sports car, making it one of the fastest sedans of its era. The designers masterfully paired a powerful engine with an elegant, sophisticated body, creating a vehicle that stood out both in performance and appearance.
Although some of these sedans were exported, most remained in England, making Mark’s discovery even more astonishing. Finding such a rare Jaguar hidden away on an abandoned farm in Iowa—a location far from the usual centers of automotive culture—was nothing short of extraordinary. Even more surprising was the car’s condition. Despite being stored in a wooden shed for decades, it remained remarkably well-preserved.
Inside the glove compartment, Mark found records showing that the car was last registered in 1983. Now, with such a rare find in his possession, he plans to auction it off. Experts estimate that the vehicle could sell for several hundred thousand dollars, a stunning return on what had initially seemed like an ordinary farm purchase.