Grace, Pace and Space
In 1955 Jaguar produced their first non-separate chassis car, which is now referred to as the Mark I, but by 1959 this had been updated and improved, which then became known as the famous Mark II.
The Mark II had all the elements of Sir William Lyons’ aim of grace, pace and space and it really was the saloon of the sixties, with its sporting prowess and good looks.
Available in three engine sizes; 2.4, 3.4 and 3.8 litre — the 2.4 and 3.4 were later renamed to Jaguar 240 and 340. It also incorporated the Daimler 2.5 litre and in 1967 the Daimler V8 250.
The 3.8 litre model was particularly nippy and had a top speed of 125mph with a 220bhp engine, which could reach 0-60 in 8.8 seconds. It’s not really surprising that the model quickly became popular with the police who used this particular model to patrol motorways.
And it wasn’t just the police who saw their appeal, but also the very people they were trying to catch and the Mark II also gained a reputation as a capable getaway car among criminals, with enough room for five adults and the swag.
The media also picked up on the car’s popularity and it played a starring role in Inspector Morse. The series ran for 33 episodes from 1987 to 2000 and the car appeared in every episode. The model was the lowly 2.4 version so couldn’t really chase the bad guys — it even had a black Everflex vinyl roof, which was something never fitted by the factory.
It also featured in The Sweeney when plenty of these Jaguars were portrayed as being used by villains — the Flying Squad had Fords.
Other famous Mark IIs include the light-grey car in very poor condition, which served as the main transport in the 1987 British film Withnail and I.
You may also remember that Joey Boswell in 'Bread' drove a black Jaguar 240.
Racing Success
This notorious Jaguar also made its name on the racetrack and it did particularly well on the European Touring Car Championship series.
Part of the John Coombs race team Mark IIs were driven by Graham Hill, Roy Salvadori, Stirling Moss, Mike Parkes & Jack Sears.
Ken Bell a founder of the JEC, who worked for Coombs in the sixties remembers preparing the car, taking it to the circuit, letting Hill race it and then driving it home. All they did then was change the fluids and leave it for the next race. Try doing that today.
Restoration of an Icon
I remember driving the Morse car back in the late eighties and it was a “bit of a dog”, desperately needing some work.
In November 2005 after an expensive restoration the car sold for £100,000 and appeared on the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club (JEC) stand at The NEC Classic Motor Show. The car is now owned by JEC member, Ian Berg.
The Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club’s (JEC) aim is to assist enthusiasts, in a friendly and informal manner, to keep their cars on the road with the minimum of cost. And as well as the technical side, there’s a strong focus on the social side of things with events, rallies and meetings throughout the year.
For membership enquiries please see the joining section of our website, or call: 0117 9698186.
