The famous Jaguar Mark 2 beloved of Inspector Morse

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Every shoolboy’s dream in the sixties, this one. Produced between 1959 and 1967, the Mk II was the best-looking Jaguar of all, in my opinion, beating even the universally-admired E-Type. It is perfectly proportioned and every detail fits with the rest of the car.

Legend has it that it was the result of American criticism of the previous 2.4 and 3.4 models as underpowered and, if this is true, the Mk II certainly answered in style. For the time, a top speed of 125 mph and acceleration to 60 mph in 9 seconds was very good. And the performance made it immediately the choice of both the British police force and gangsters; watch any late-50s/early-60s cops-and-robbers movie from England and you will see the car in action.

The engine, the same as powered the D-Type to its victories at Le Mans, was the Jaguar straight-6 available in 2.4, 3.4 or 3.8 liter versions. The handling was good and the Mk II quickly became the car to beat in saloon car racing of the early 60s, until Mr Cooper souped up the Mini and showed everyone how fast it could go around corners.

Jaguar made over 80,000 Mk IIs so there is no shortage of them on the classic car market. And it was a classic from the moment production ceased. The Mk X that followed it looked like a Mk II with an angular trunk attached and lost the balance so apparent in the earlier car. And never again have Jaguar produced a car so timeless in looks; it is clearly a product of the 50s but so pretty that it can never age.