Mark Benton was in the process of purchasing an old farm with plans to demolish it. His primary interest was the land, but before beginning any work, he decided to take a look inside the barn located on the property’s outskirts.
As the barn doors creaked open, Mark was stunned to find one of the world’s most expensive cars—manufactured in 1959—sitting inside. It was a Jaguar Mark 2 sedan, a rare model introduced by the company that year in an effort to attract new customers.
The Jaguar Mark 2 was equipped with the engine from the Jaguar XK sports car, making it one of the fastest cars of its time. The designers had paired this powerful engine with a stylish and distinguished body, resulting in a car that was both beautiful and high-performing.
While some of these sedans were released, most remained in their home country of England. This made Mark’s discovery all the more surprising—a rare Jaguar, hidden away for decades on an abandoned farm in Iowa, a place often considered far removed from cultural centers. Despite being stored in a wooden shed for so many years, the car was incredibly well-preserved.
In addition to the car, Mark found records in the glove compartment showing that it was last registered in 1983. The vehicle is now set to be auctioned off, with the buyer expecting to fetch at least several hundred thousand dollars.
