The glorious black Mk1 has been the primary vehicle of a young Endeavour Morse in the ITV show Endeavour, which most recently aired its fourth series in early 2017.
The car cuts a mean figure as driven by actor Shaun Evans in the show, with its black wheels and understated 'POLICE' sign giving an almost gangster like appearance.
Jaguar's first small saloon car of the post-war period, the Mk1 will be a key part of a timeline of Jaguars that will feature at the Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival.
A Mk2 Jaguar - the Mk1's closely related predecessor - was used in the original Inspector Morse series, presumably making the Mk1 a straightforward casting choice for a younger Morse.
Indeed both the Mk1 and Mk2 Jaguar were capable performance saloons, particularly for their time, which made them favourites of the Police and lawbreakers alike.
Initially available with 112bhp, the Mk1 was capable of dashing to 60mph in 14.4 seconds, a very strong figure for a saloon of its size and age. The later 3.4 litre model went further still, offering 210bhp, dramatically increasing performance.
The Mk1 debuted in 1955, borrowing many of its components from existing Jaguars, such as its 2.4 litre XK Straight Six, married to a Moss gearbox.
However, the Mk1 did involve considerable innovation for Jaguar, being their first monocoque design, which allowed for a more rigid and lighter structure.
With nearly 40,000 produced in 5 years, the Mk1 proved a successful foray into a new market for Jaguar, which sees its most modern interpretation in the new Jaguar XE.
THE ROYAL WINDSOR JAGUAR FESTIVAL
The Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival will be an event like no other. Set in the majestic surroundings of Windsor Castle, the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club has been invited by the Prince Philip Trust Fund to assemble a unique Jaguar display and parade with the ultimate goal of raising funds to support this great cause.
The Prince Philip Trust Fund raises money to help young people living in the Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, having been established using a small sum of money taken from contributions to fundraising events that took place during Her Majesty The Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. Since this modest beginning, the Trust Fund has benefited from a number of special fundraising events including several car rallies, and it is in this tradition that the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club is organising the Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival.
Booking is now open for the Festival Welcome Events on Friday 5th May, Long Walk tickets on Saturday 6th May or to join us in the evening at our Festival at Windsor Racecourse. For more details or to book, contact us here.
Endeavour Image[s] Credit: Anthony Gilsenan