THE NEXT TWO CARS WERE THE MK1 & MK2 JAGUARS
Two examples of the Jaguar 3.4 MK 1 made between 1955 and 1959
         In the mid-fifties Jaguar had reached a point in its history of selling only luxury and sports vehicles. The company also sold a great deal of its production in foreign markets.
This put Jaguar in a precarious position because a recession or import restrictions could reduce sales dramatically. Jaguar needed to cement a stronger position by producing a car that could be sold at home and to a larger market.
For this reson, the Jaguar MK I was introduced at the 1955 Motor Show.
The vehicle was designed to fill their product gap and to appeal to the home market.

          The Jaguar 2.4 litre saloon was not only Jaguars first compact saloon car, but it was also their first car of unitary construction. It was introduced in September 1955 to extend Jaguars range of cars to cater for those who wanted the performance and luxury of the larger Jaguar saloons in a smaller car with a lower price. The 2.4 saloon (later to be known as the Mk I after the introduction of the famous Mk II Jaguar in 1959) could seat 5 adults in comfort in its deceptively roomy and well appointed interior. It was powered by a reduced capacity version of the twin overhead cam XK engine that had powered all Jaguars since 1950. The 2.4 was joined by a 3.4 litre version from February 1957. This car delivered astounding performance with acceleration that very few manufacturers could match. The car was more or less an instant success, and sold well on both sides of the Atlantic. As with many other Jaguar cars of the time, the 3.4 litre saloon was very successful in motor sport, and achieved many victories both on a national, and international level throughout its production.

                                                                   1959 MK11
          The Jaguar MK II evolved and was an instant success with a much larger glass area and a redesigned dash. Leather seats were fitted as standard until 1967 when leather became optional to keep the base cost down. Another Jaguar classic feachure, its fog/spot lights, also became optional at this time. Options included a 3.8 litre version of the twin cam engine with increased torque and power.
Two examples of the Jaguar 3.8 Mk 2 made between 1959 and 1966
A very nice example of a tuned XK engine fitted with a three carb manifold
       When I took over the MKVII arrouned 1962 my Father went out and bought a MK 1 3.4 Jaguar but kept it for less than a year before a good deal was struck with Wyndam Motors in Salisbury to upgrade the MK 1 to a very nice sky blue MK 2 with a larger 3.8 engine. This car remained in the family for a number of years and was always very reliable.
         I used it once to take a motoring holiday to Northern Italy. As soon as I hit the French motorways I found that even cruising at 90 mph many little French cars, driven with foot to the floor,  were still overtaking me! In the UK a Jaguar is not used to being overtaken so I took up the challenge and increased to 110 mph. After cruising at this speed for about ten minutes I noticed that the car was slowing and the engine was definitely misfireing. Fuel starvation, I thought or what else? Slowing again to 90 the engine ran smoothly again.. I then concluded that the plugs were probably the culprit, getting too hot at high engine speed and load.(something we never experienced in the UK, because of our low speed limits)  The next town we came to we managed to get a set of colder plugs and after fitting them, the engine never missed another beat!
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3.8 engine bay