1959 to 1969
Overview
Manufacturer	Jaguar Cars
Also called	Jaguar 240 & Jaguar 340 from September 1967
Production	1959–1967 83,976 (Mark 2) 1967–1969 7,234 (240 & 340)
Assembly	Coventry, England
Body and chassis
Class	Sports saloon
Body style	4-door saloon
Layout	FR layout
Related	Daimler 2.5-V8 / V8-250 Jaguar S-Type Jaguar 420
Powertrain
Engine	2,483 cc (2.5 L) XK I6 3,442 cc (3.4 L) XK I6 3,781 cc (3.8 L) XK I6 (until 1966)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	107 in (2,718 mm)
Length	180 in (4,572 mm)
Width	67 in (1,702 mm)
Height	58 in (1,473 mm)
Kerb weight	3,174 lb (1,440 kg) 2.4 manual without overdrive

The Jaguar Mark 2 is a saloon car built from late 1959 to 1967 by the Jaguar company in Coventry, England.

History

For the last 12 months before announcement of the XJ6 they were re-labelled Jaguar 240 and Jaguar 340. The previous Jaguar 2.4 and 3.4 models made between 1955 and 1959 have been identified as Mark 1 Jaguars since Jaguar produced this Mark 2 model.

The body has seen some detail improvements and retouching, in particular the window areas have been enlarged. Disc brakes on all four wheels were standard from now on. Compared to its predecessor, the Mark 2 received a wider track . The Jaguar Mark 2 2.4 with 2483 cc displacement now had 120 bhp , the 3.4 continued to have 210 bhp and the newly added 3.8 with 3781 cc displacement 220 bhp. The rear wheels were driven via a four-speed gearbox with center shift, optionally with overdrive or Borg-Warner 35 automatic gearbox. The top speed was 160/190/200 km / h with manual transmission. This made the Mark 2, version 3.8, the fastest four-door production car of its time until 1964. 

In May 1960, the Daimler Motor Company was taken over by Jaguar. The Daimler 250 V8 based on the Jaguar Mark 2 was then produced from October 1962 to mid-1969 . The Daimler version, however, received the engine of the Daimler SP250 , an interior with different details and the ribbed radiator grille typical of Daimler .

From autumn 1967 the models were named Jaguar 240 and 340 . The standard equipment of these vehicles was less lavish than before. In addition to the Jaguar 340 with 3.4-liter engine, there were also individual pieces as 340 3.8 with the larger 3.8-liter engine. The engine of the 2.4 with the new, more powerful straight-port cylinder head came to 133 bhp. The distinguishing feature of the 240 and 340 models were narrower bumpers. For the USA there were still a few copies of the 340 with wider bumpers. By 1967 25,173 of the 2.4 liter, 28,663 of the 3.4 liter and 30,140 of the 3.8 liter were built, plus 4446 copies of the 240, 2788 copies of the 340 (210 bhp) and 12 vehicles with the 3.8 liter engine (220 bhp) .

PERFORMANCE: 3.4L

• engine capacity: 210.03 cu in, 3,442 cu cm
• fuel consumption: 18.2 m/imp gal, 15.2 mlUS gal, 15.5 1 x 100 km
• max speed: 123 mph, 198 km/h
• power-weight ratio: 14.6 lb/hp, 6.6 kg/hp
• max power (SAE): 213 hp at 5,500 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 215 1b ft, 29.7 kg m at 3,OOO rpm
• max engine rpm: 6,000
• specific power: 61.9 hp/l
• max speeds: 40 mph, 64.4 km/h in 1st gear; 62 mph, 99.8 km/h in 2nd gear; 93 mph, 149.7 km/h in 3rd gear; 123 mph, 198 km/h in 4th gear

There is no direct successor to the Jaguar Mark 2, as Jaguar reduced the range of sedans to a basic model with the introduction of the Jaguar XJ . As a luxury model , the XJ was positioned higher than the Mark 2 and is therefore more of a successor to the Jaguar 420G or the first S-Type and the (small) 420 . Only with the new S-Type did Jaguar return to the upper middle class in 1999. The look of this modern S-Type was clearly based on the original S-Type and thus a good deal on the Mark 2.

Until the XJ, Jaguar's postwar saloons were identified by Roman Numerals (e.g. Mark VII, Mark VIII), but the Mark 2 was identified by Arabic Numerals and was labelled "MK 2" on the back of the car. The Mark 2 was a swift and capable saloon that followed Sir William Lyons' philosophy of "grace, pace, and spaciousness." It had a Jaguar XK engine with 120 bhp (89 kW; 120 PS) and a displacement of 2,483 cubic centimetres (152 cu in), 210 bhp (160 kW; 210 PS) and 3,442 cubic centimetres (210 cu in) or 220 bhp (160 kW; 220 PS) and a displacement of 3,781 cubic centimetres (231 cu in).

The 3.8 is similar to the unit used in the 3.8 E-Type (called XKE in the USA), having the same block, crank, connecting rods and pistons but different inlet manifold and carburation (two SUs versus three on the E-Type in Europe) and therefore 30 bhp (22 kW) 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- and 3.8-litre cars were fitted with twin SU HD6 carburettors and the 2.4 with twin Solex carburettors.

Jaguar Mark 2  3.4L engine

Compared to the Mark 1, appearance of the car was transformed by an increase of 18% in cabin glass area greatly improving visibility. 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 (although still notoriously ineffective). There was an improved instrument layout that became standard for all Jaguar cars until the XJ series II of 1973.

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 100kg 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 (106 kW; 144 PS) 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 (68 kg) 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 Mark 2 cars were re-labelled 240 and 340. The 3.8-litre engine was dropped. They were interim models 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 (89 kW; 120 PS) @ 5,750 r.p.m. to 133 bhp (99 kW; 135 PS) @ 5,500 r.p.m. 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.

Performance (3.8)

ENGINE CAPACITY: 231.25 cu in, 3781 cu cm;
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 18.5 m/imp gal, 15.4 m US gal, 15.3 1 x 100 km;
MAX SPEED: 120 mph, 193.2 km h
max speed in 1st gear: 35 mph, 56.3 km/h
max speed in 2nd gear: 64 mph, 103 km/h
max speed in 3rd gear: 98 mph, 157.8 km/h
max speed in 4th gear: 120 mph, 193.2 km/h
power-weight ratio: 13.4 lb/hp, 6.1 kg/hp
useful load: 882 1b, 400 kg
acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 16.3 sec,
0—50 mph (0 —80 km/h) 6.4 sec
speed in direct drive at 1000 rpm: 20.1 mph, 32.4 km/h.

VARIATIONS AND OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES:

Tuned competition engine, max speed 130.4 mph, 210 km/h; 4-speed mechanical gear box and Laycock-de Normanville overdrive in IV (1 3.377, II 1.859, III 1.284, IV 1 - ov. 0.777), multiplication ratio 0.77, speed in overdrive at 1000 rpm 21.1 mph, 34 km/h, axle ratio 3.77 : 1 3-speed automatic gear box Rudge wire Wheels

Mk II 3.4-litre, engine capacity 210.51 cu in, 3442 cu cm, bore and stroke 3.27 x 4.17 in, 83 x 106 mm. compression ratios 7-8 : 1. max power 210 hp at 5500 rpm, max torque 215 1b ft, 29.7 kgm at 3000 rpm,limited slip final drive, max speed 120 mph, 193.2 km/h

Mk II 2.4-litre, engine capacity 151.86 cu in, 2483 cu cm, bore and stroke 3.27 x 3.01 in, 83 x 76.5 mm. compression ratio 8 : 1, max power 120 hp at 5750 rpm, max torque 144 1b ft, 19.9 kgm at 2000 rpm,4-speed mechanical gear box (axle ratio 4.27 : 1), 4-speed mechanical gear box and overdrive (axle ratio 4.55 : 1). 3-speed automatic gear box (axle ratio 4.27 : 1), max speed 105 mph, 169 km/h (see Mk X).

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 (164 kW) engine driving the car from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.5 seconds and to a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) 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 (prior to this, in its recommissioned state in 2002 after coming out of storage, it had made £53,000 at auction – £45,000 more than an equivalent without the history). 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 English countryside.

The famous Jaguar Mk2 with Inspector Morse  played by John Thaw

1960 Jaguar Mk.II in  Wheeler Dealers series 9