The Jaguar Mark 2 is a medium-sized saloon car built from late 1959 to 1967
by Jaguar in Coventry, England. Twelve months before the announcement of the
XJ6 the 2.4 Litre and 3.4 Litre Mark 2 models were renamed to Jaguar 240 and
Jaguar 340 respectively. The previous Jaguar 2.4 Litre and 3.4 Litre models
made between 1955 and 1959 have been identified as Mark 1 Jaguars since
Jaguar produced this Mark 2 model. Until the XJ, Jaguar's postwar saloons
were usually denoted by Roman numerals while the Mark 2 used Arabic Numerals,
denoted on the rear of the car as "MK 2".
The XK engine Adhering to Sir William Lyons' maxim of
"grace, pace and space", the Mark 2 was a fast and capable saloon. It came with
a 120 bhp 2,483 cubic centimetres, 210 bhp 3,442 cubic centimetres or 220 bhp
3,781 cubic centimetres Jaguar XK engine. The 3.8 is similar to the unit
used in the 3.8 E-Type, having the same block, crank, connecting rods and
pistons but different inlet manifold and carburation and therefore 30 bhp less.
The head of the six-cylinder engine in the Mark 2 had curved ports compared to
the straight ports of the E-Type configuration. The 3.4 Litre and 3.8
Litre cars were fitted with twin SU HD6 carburettors and the 2.4 Litre with twin
Solex carburettors. Some explanation is required concerning
the claimed bhp figures shown above. Jaguar used gross bhp figures throughout
the production period of the Mk II and 240/340 models. A direct conversion into
DIN bhp is not possible, but we know that the 3.8 Mk II engine developed
around 190 bhp DIN. This compares with the later 4.2 XJ6 engine which also gave
around 190 bhp DIN or 245 gross bhp, according to Jaguar, both being for 8:1
compression engines. The explanation was that the lower peak for the XJ6 4.2
engine meant that the bhp was being delivered at less rpm, for the same
output.The camshaft timing and inlet and exhaust valve sizes were the same for
the 2.4,3.4,3.8 Mk II and XJ6 4.2 engines, so the engines throttled
themselves sooner in the bigger engine sizes. The later 4.2 XJ6 engines had
special induction pipes, to reduce exhaust emissions, that crossed over
between the inlet and exhaust sides of the engine, which reduced bhp to around
170 bhp on later production. Body
Compared to the Mark 1, appearance of the car was transformed by an increase
of 18% in cabin glass area greatly improving vision. The car was
re-engineered above the waistline, slender front pillars allowed a wider
windscreen and the rear window almost wrapped around to the enlarged side
windows now with the familiar Jaguar D-shape above the back door and fully
chromed frames for all the side windows. The radiator grille was amended and
larger side, tail and fog lamps repositioned. Inside a new heating
system was fitted and ducted to the rear compartment. There was an improved
instrument layout that became standard for all Jaguar cars until the XJ series
II of 1973. Mechanical changes
The front suspension geometry was rearranged to raise the roll centre and
the rear track widened. Four-wheel disc brakes were now standard. Power
steering, overdrive or automatic transmissions could be fitted at extra
cost. The 3.8 Litre was supplied fitted with a limited-slip differential.
The Mark 2 was over 100 kg heavier than the 2.4 / 3.4 cars.
Daimler 2.5 V8 and V8-250 A popular luxury derivative fitted with
Daimler's own 142 bhp 2½-litre V8 it sold well from 1962 to 1967 as a Daimler
2.5 V8. In late 1967 it was re-labelled V8-250 to match Jaguar 240. As well as
being significantly more powerful than the 2.4-litre XK6 the more modern
Daimler engine was lighter by about 150 lb and also shorter which reduced the
mass over the front wheels and so reduced understeer during hard
cornering. These cars were recognisable by the
characteristic Daimler wavy fluting incorporated in the chrome radiator
grille and rear number plate lamp cover, their smoothness and the sound of their
V8 engine. They were given distinct exterior and luxury interior fittings.
240 and 340 In September 1967 the 2.4 Litre and 3.4
Litre Mark 2 cars were rebadged as the 240 and 340 respectively. The 3.8 Litre
model was discontinued. The 240 and 340 were interim models intended to fill the
gap until the introduction of the XJ6 in September 1968. The 340 was discontinued
on the introduction of the XJ6 but the 240 continued as a budget priced model
until April 1969; its price of £1364 was only £20 more than the first 2.4 in
1956. Output of the 240 engine was increased
from 120 bhp @ 5,750 r.p.m. to 133 bhp at 5,500 rpm. and torque was increased.
It now had a straight-port type cylinder head and twin HS6 SU carburettors with a
new inlet manifold. The automatic transmission was upgraded to a
Borg-Warner 35 dual drive range. Power steering by Marles Varamatic was now
available on the 340. Servicing intervals were increased from 2,000
miles to 3,000 miles. There was a slight reshaping of the rear body and slimmer
bumpers and over-riders were fitted. For the first time the 2.4 litre model could
exceed 100 mph, resulting in a slight sales resurgence.
The economies of the new 240 and 340 models came at a cost – the leather
upholstery was replaced by Ambla leather-like material and tufted carpet
was used on the floor—though both had been introduced on the Mark 2 a year
earlier. Other changes included the replacement of the front fog lamps with
circular vents and optional fog lamps for the UK market. The sales price was
reduced to compete with the Rover 2000 TC.
Production Mark 2: 83,976 produced between 1959 and
1967, split as follows: 2.4 Litre – 25,173
3.4 Litre – 28,666 3.8 Litre – 30,141
240 and 340: 7,246 produced between 1967 and 1969, split as follows:
240 – 4,446 340 – 2,788
380 – 12 The XJ6 was introduced in September
1968. Performance
A 3.4 Litre with automatic transmission tested by The Motor magazine in 1961 had
a top speed of 119.9 mph and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 11.9
seconds. A touring fuel consumption of 19.0 miles per imperial gallon was
recorded. The test car cost £1951 including taxes of £614.
A 3.8 Litre with the 220 bhp engine was capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in
8.5 seconds and could reach a top speed of 125 mph.
Motorsport Bob Jane won the 1962 Australian Touring
Car Championship driving a 3.8 Litre Mark 2.
Michael Parkes and Jimmy Blumer won the 1962 The Motor Six Hours International
Saloon Car Race driving a 3.8 Litre Mark 2.
Peter Nöcker won the 1963 European Touring Car Challenge driving a 3.8
Litre Mark 2. Bob Jane won the 1963 Australian Touring
Car Championship driving a 3.8 Litre Mark 2.
Roy Salvadori and Denny Hulme won the 1963 Brands Hatch 6 Hours driving a 3.8
Litre Mark 2. Influence on modern Jaguars
The Mark 2's body lines, derived from the Mark 1, and overall layout proved
sufficiently popular over time to provide an inspiration for the Jaguar
S-Type introduced in 1999. Portrayal in media
The Mark 2 gained a reputation as a capable car among criminals and law
enforcement alike; the 3.8 Litre model being particularly fast with its 220 bhp
engine driving the car from 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds and to a top speed of 125
mph with enough room for five adults. Popular as getaway cars, they were also
employed by the police to patrol British motorways.
The Mark 2 is also well known as the car driven by fictional TV detective
Inspector Morse played by John Thaw; Morse's car was the version with 2.4 L
engine, steel wheels and Everflex vinyl roof. In November 2005, the car used in
the television series sold for more than £100,000 following a total ground-up
rebuild. In the original novels by Colin Dexter, Morse had driven a Lancia but
Thaw insisted on his character driving a British car in the television series.
In the 1987 British film Withnail and I, a light-grey Mark 2 in very poor
condition serves as the main transport for the eponymous main characters'
disastrous trip to the Lake District. In the late 1980s to early 1990's the
Character Joey Boswell drove a black Jaguar 240 in the British TV comedy
"Bread". Notes
References Schrader, Halwart: Typenkompass Jaguar –
Personenwagen seit 1931, Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart, ISBN
3-613-02106-4 Stertkamp, Heiner: Jaguar – die
komplette Chronik von 1922 bis heute, 2. Auflage, Heel-Verlag, ISBN 3-89880-337-6
External links Video of 3.8 and 3.4 as new
Volunteer register with records and photos of the Mk. II