The 2.4 litre saloon of 1955 had been a major step for Jaguar marking the change from an independent chassis to the utilisation of monocoque construction. It was a necessary move as Jaguar, were aware there was a strong market for a more compact saloon than the big Mk IX. Power came from a 2,482cc version of the superb twin cam straight six XK engine first seen in the XK120, the 2.4 offered luxury, performance and value for money. Using coil spring/wishbone front and semi-elliptic spring rear suspension, it possessed fine road manners and proved a great success, both on and off the track, particularly when the Mk I, as it subsequently became known, was available with the 3.4 litre engine in February 1957.

It was in October 1959 that the Mk 2 version appeared, making a good car even better. Similar in appearance but with a much larger glass area, it boasted a wider rear track to improve road holding together with minor front suspension changes to reduce body roll and all round discs rather than drum brakes. Engine options included the 120bhp 2.4 litre, the 210bhp 3.4 litre and, for the first time, the 220bhp 3,781cc unit of the Mk IX. It was the 3.4 litre, however, which proved the most popular, offering the best compromise between performance and economy. Transmission options were either a four-speed manual gearbox or Borg-Warner automatic, the 3.4-litre manual Mk2 being a genuine 120mph car. In competition it was unbeatable, driven by such greats as Mike Hawthorn, Stirling Moss, Ivor Bueb, Roy Salvadori Archie Scott-Brown and Don and Erle Morlev.

The Mk 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

One of the most instantly recognised British cars of the 1960s, thanks in part to the model making so many appearances in films and on TV, especially the Inspector Morse series, Jaguar’s Mk 2 saloon continues to be highly prized by enthusiasts nearly half a century later.