Jaguar MkI saloon

Glamorous sports cars grabbed the headlines for Jaguar in the early Fifties, but the firm also understood the importance of its saloons, and had already started work on a new mid-sized model.

It has subsequently become known as the MkI, but at its 1955 launch, it was simply the 2.4-litre saloon. However, there was nothing simple about its design. It was the first Jaguar to feature a unitary pressed-steel body, while spats were fitted to the rear wheels to reduce drag and give the MkI a clean profile. A narrow XK140-inspired radiator grille meant the styling was typical Jaguar. The 2.4-litre straight-six from the XK sat under the bonnet, but customers in the US wanted more power, so in 1957 the 3.4-litre version was introduced.

The black car in our photos is a great example of the latter model. It is distinguished from the 2.4 by its cutaway rear spats, which were designed to help brake cooling, subtle 3.4 badges and a broader radiator. It had 210bhp, could sprint from 0-60mph in nine seconds and went on to a top speed of 120mph. A manual gearbox was standard, with overdrive optional. By September 1957 all-round disc brakes became an option, too.

These innovations helped the MkI to success in saloon car racing, and proved Jaguar’s performance prowess wasn’t confined to two-seaters. Arguably one of the world’s first ‘sports saloons’, the MkI proved that four-door models weren’t best left for the chauffeur to drive.