Jaguar Mark 2
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The Jaguar Mark 2 (Mk2, Mk 2, MkII) is a small (by US standards, large by UK standards) saloon car built by the Jaguar company in Coventry, England.
It was raced successfully in the European Touring Car Championship, until the Ford Falcon convincingly outperformed it.
It is well known as the car driven by fictional TV detective Inspector Morse played by John Thaw, although Morse's car was the least desirable version (with its 2.4-litre engine, steel wheels and everflex roof). In November 2005, the car used in the television series sold for more than GBP 100,000 once it had been restored from its rather scruffy condition. It was often pushed into scenes with engine noises dubbed onto the soundtrack in post-production.[link]
Adhering to William Lyons' maxim of "grace, pace and space", the Mark 2 was a beautiful, fast and capable saloon car. It came with either a 2.4 litre straight six, a 3.4-litre straight six or the famous 3.8 litre XK straight six-cylinder engine. The 3.8 is similar to the unit used in the 3.8 E-Type (XKE), having a different inlet manifold and carburation (2 S.U.s versus 3 on the XKE in Europe) and therefore 30 bhp less than the similar 3.8 unit used in the E-Type (XKE). The head of the 4.2 engine in the E-Type was significantly different to accomodate larger valves. The 2.4 was fitted with twin Solexes, of which three were used in US spec 3.4s and 3.8s in order to meet SMOG emissions legislation. As is often the case this did reduce performance over the equivalent S.U. carburettored examples.
The 2.5-litre V8 was fitted to the Daimler_250 derivative (known as the Daimler V8 in European Markets), having been transplanted from the Daimler_SP250 (known as the Daimler Dart in European Markets). This aluminium alloy unit is lighter than the cast iron sixes, changing the handling; many say for the better.
The Mark 2 gained a reputation for transcending the borders of class and breeding in the 1960s, breaking down barriers in the name of good taste, owned by city bankers and bank robbers alike. The 3.8 specifically gained a reputation as a capable car for bank raids, being fast (over 200 bhp and 125 mph in 1959 was impressive - this was when the average saloon car was flat out at 60 mph!), roomy enough for five men and with a big boot (for the loot or bodies).
The British police were often to be found chasing them, as depicted in The Sweeney (that also starred John Thaw) and other TV cop shows. They were used as police patrol cars, especially on UK motorways which in the 1960s had no speed limit. The police frequently upgraded the 3.8 with the XKE inlet manifolds and triple SU carburettors.
Collectors have sustained high prices and there are numerous owners groups for these cars; demonstrating their continued desirability and popularity. They are fast and practical classic cars that turn heads when seen on the road. Virtually every part is still available or remade from specialists in Europe and the US.
| A subsidiary of Ford (since 1989) | Jaguar Cars road and race car timeline, 1945-present | [[http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit]] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Sports | XK120 | XK140 | XK150 | E-type S1 | E S2 | E-type S3 | XJ-S | XJ-S HE | XJS | XK8, XKR | XK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saloon | Mark 1 | Mark 2, 240, 340 | X-Type | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S-Type | XJ-C | S-Type, S-Type R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 420 | XJ6 Ser I | XJ6 Ser II | XJ6 Ser III | XJ6 (XJ40) | XJ6 | XJ8, XJR | XJ8, XJR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mk IV | Mk V | Mk VII | Mk VIII | Mk IX | Mk X | 420G | XJ12 | XJ12 S II | XJ12 Ser III | XJ12 | XJ12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supercar | XKSS | 15 | XJ220 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Racing | C-Type | D-Type | E-Type | XJ13 | XJ-C | XJR-5/6/7/8/9/10/12/14 | C | R1/2/3/4/5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate Ownership | Independent | BMH | British Leyland | Indep- endent | Ford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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