Jaguar Mk.II Racing

Introduced during the 1959, London, England, Earl"s Court Motor Show, the Jaguar Mk.II was welcomed by the general public and motorsports enthusiasts alike. With its elegant styling, high performance and affordable price, it proved to be an almost instant success. This competitive saloon car made its appearance on racing circuits in 1960, shortly following its debut. Since then, it virtually dominated the early 1960"s British and European touring car races and endurance events. The mk.II also proved to be a potent force on the rally races. Motor history legends such as Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Bruce McLaren, John Surtees, and several others drove the MK.II in competition. Not only the big names, but also many private teams relied on the Mk.II because of its dependability and race-readiness. Even a stock MK.II could lap circuits at more than 100mph (160km/h) with ease, and an MK.II 3.8 liter in full race tune produced 280bhp. In March 1963, a Jaguar Mk.II challenged the four-day trials at the Monza circuit in Italy. The car completed more than 10,000 miles, establishing four new international records at an average speed of 105mph. This was the pinnacle of its career, and from 1964 onwards, the Mk.II"s dominance of European and English circuits gradually waned. However, even today the Mk.II is a main figure in historical car races, and it looks right on the track. This is truly a car deserving the name of "Sporty Saloon."