For the 1960s Jaguar needed something new for the flagship saloon in the range so the Mark X took on the mantle. Introduced at the British Motor Show in 1961, apart from the existing 3.8 litre XK engine (now equipped with triple carburettors). the car was all new. A monocoque body shell of vast proportions, carrying the accolade of being the widest production saloon ever produced in the UK at the time, the styling incorporated a four headlight frontal treatment with shallow forward sloping grille and a one piece hinged bonnet. With bulbous sides to allow extra interior width in the car, an extra larger boot area and massive sills to retain rigidity, the car was stylistically still very attractive.

Built with Jaguar’s prime USA market in mind, the car even carried 14” wheel rims, the norm for American cars at the time. It was perhaps because of its immense size that the car wasn’t as popular as Jaguar would have hoped. Too wide for many British roads and private garages, and too trans-continental in looks to suit the Americans concept of a luxury British saloon.

Nevertheless the car was a superb, well equipped model which would finally see off most British competition from the likes of Armstrong Siddeley, Humber and even Daimler.

The model was upgraded with the 4.2 litre engine in 1964 along with an all synchromesh manual gearbox, improved brakes and power steering