Legends and Legacies: Jaguar MK II

(Image source: jagwebworld.com) This lean mean machine was the favour of business men and the criminal fraternity back in the 60s. Let’s relive the popularity of the Jaguar MK II.

Nothing screams the 1960s like the Jaguar MK II, it was so well favoured in the criminal fraternity that the car is featured in many movies as the go-to car for criminals. It was one of Jaguar’s most popular models to date and the fastest car that has ever rolled out of Brown Lane, Coventry.

If there ever was a car that contradicts itself, it would be the Jaguar MK II. The looks, for starters, is all about class. With the four headlights and its beautifully balanced shape, it is not a surprise that the car had found favour with the upper class businessmen and littered the stockbroker belt. But contrary to its looks the Jaguar MK II is reputed to be wickedly fast. It was thanks to speed the car was capable of that made the Jaguar MK II the preferred car of the criminal fraternity.

(Image source: autominded.net) But not all of these MK IIs were fast, only the ones equipped with the full-house 3.8-litre engine that gave a claimed of 220bhp could manage speeds of up to 201kph. Take one step down from the 3.8-litre is the 3.4-litre engine which outputs a 210bhp and manages 193kph. Not a lot of difference to the eye and it was the 3.4-litre engine MK II that gained favour from the crowd. Down another step was the 2.4-litre engine which could barely manage 160kph and it was all about the leisurely-feel of the car.

Thanks to the wicked quickness of the MK II, the car even made a fine name for itself on the track as a saloon car racer. Rumour has it that this got Formula 1 World Champion Graham Hill’s praise thanks to that reputation that it had collected.

(Image source: bringatrailer.com) 83,980 units were built since Jaguar first allowed public eyes to set vision in 1959. And at the end of its life cycle, the MK II had also spawn a whole raft of even more expensive variations like the 240 and 340, even a Daimler that comes with a V8 engine instead.

After axe-ing the MK II entirely, Jaguar was not able to re-emulate their success in the saloon segment. Only recently did they realised the brand new XF that the company has high hopes could re-enact the success of the MK II.

Jerrica Leong