195 Jaguar 3.4 Mk.II (1961-65)

This is one of the most recognizable British cars of which, fortunately, many of them can still be seen on the roads today. Jaguar Mark 2 (Wikipedia) TheJaguar Mark 2is a medium-sizedsaloon car built from late 1959to 1967 byJaguarin Coventry, England. The outmoded Jaguar 2.4 Litre and 3.4 Litre models made between 1955 and 1959 are identified asMark 1 Jaguars. The Mark 2 was a fast and capable saloon in line withSir William Lyons 1950s advertising slogan:Grace . . . Space . . . Pace. Production of the 3.8 ended in the (northern) autumn of 1967. At the same time the smaller Mark 2 cars were replaced by run-out versions named 240 and 340 sold at reduced prices. The 340 was built until the new XJ6 was available in September 1968. The 240 remained available until April 1969. Body The new car's appearance was transformed by an increase of 18% in cabin glass area greatly improving vision. It 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 changed and larger side, tail and fog lamps repositioned. Inside a new heating system was fitted and ducted to the rear compartment. There was an improved instrument layout that became standard for all Jaguar cars until theXJseries II of 1973. Mechanical changes 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. The car continued to use alive axleat the rear. Production Mark 2: 83,976 produced between 1959 and 1967, split as follows: 2.4 litre 25,173 3.4 litre 28,666 3.8 litre 30,141 1963 Jaguar MKII 3.4 LTR 6 cylinders with the indication Jaguar 3.4 and MK2 on the boot lid. Dutch license plate. Front with radiator badge and leaperd ornament. Jaguar Cars, Browns Lane, Coventry, production line. 18th October 1961 General scenes showing the new Jaguar cars coming off the production line at the plant in Coventry. 8th February 1962 Jaguar Cars entrance at Browns Lane, Coventry. 14th December 1972 An aerial view of Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, Coventry. 26th July 1988 1960 Jaguar MK2 sales brochure Jaguar MK2 with optional wire spoke wheels Jaguar MK2 with standard wheels Meccano Liverpool: Introduction Dinky Toys 195 Jaguar 3.4 Litre in MM August 1960. It was the first Dinky Toys with new Direction Control. Technical details Jaguar 3.4 sports saloon in MM August 1960 Introduction Dinky Toys 195 Jaguar 3.4 Litre with steering device on last page MM August 1960: Press the top of the car on the left-hand side and it turns left; release and steering comes back to neutral; press the right-hand side and the car turns right. You must try this by yourself. Jaguar 3.4 with directional control in Dinky Toys Newsletter Description Directional Control on one side of the box 195 195 in DT catalogue 1960 Note: Model 195 last appeared in the 1965 catalogue. The issue until 1971 mentioned in the title of this topic in the PDF library must be a mistake. My 195 Jaguar 3.4 Saloon with pencil price 3/11 on the box as indication of the first issue in 1960. On this side of the box model 195 is pictured on the box in maroon body with cream seats On this side of the box model 195 is pictured on the box in cream body with red interior Base of my -195 Jaguar 3.4 Litre with sales number 195 on the baseplate 269 Jaguar 3.4 Motorway Police Car Same base as -195, but without sales number on the baseplate Jaguar MK2 police car Manchester City Police. The Sixties were in full swing on the day two Manchester City Police officers went on patrol in South Manchester in one of the most iconic police cars of the day, the Mark 2 Jaguar. The 3.8 Mark 2 was popular with British police forces for its small size and 125mph (201km/h) performance. TV detective inspector Morse with his Jaguar MK2 together with his sidekick detective sergeant Robbie Lewis The Jaguar MK2 was a very popular and successful racing saloon all around the world in the late 1950s and early 60s. The car pictured above in a lurid oversteer slide carried Bob Jane to consecutive Australian Touring Car Championship titles in 1962 and 63, first with a 3.8-litre lump and then a larger 4.1-litre unit. 1963 Jaguar MKII 3.4. It is an in 2002 to the Netherlands imported car, which got a Dutch license plate. That's why the steering wheel is still right handed, while all cars in the Netherlands normally are left handed. The Jaguar MkII 3.4litre was In the middle of the Mk2 range and was fitted with the 3442cc XK engine, as used in the 3.4 ('Mk1') Saloon. As with the rest of the range the 3.4 received the better looking body revisions. The new car had slimmer window surrounds, a larger glass area, new front and rear lamps, a deeper grille and a revised interior. The interior was well appointed and standard equipment included leather upholstery, fold down picnic trays for rear passengers, a wood dash and door cappings. There are colour variations and South African issues. Jan Oldenhuis, 12 December 2019

Jan-- Another wonderful and very well written article on a popular car and model. Being a long time Jaguar aficionado, I was well aware of most of the history, but enjoyed it nonetheless. As a point of interest, my father bought a very early 2.4 sedan here in California in 1956, and as a young boy, I was always thrilled to ride in it.Best regards, Terry

Jan, thank you for this excellent exposition on probably my favourite British car of the sixties. I love the look of this model even more than the E-type. I've always had the opinion that it looked as though it was doing one hundred miles an hour, even when it was standing still! I worked as an assistant to the Service Manager of a dealer in west London during 1967 and remember us preparing an example of the Jaguar's cousin, the Daimler V8-250, for presentation to one of our clients' most successful salesmen. How I envied him! Is the green car yours by any chance?

No Unfortunately not. I would like to have it. I spotted him in the neighborhood near me in Rhoon during a bike ride. It makes me always very happy when I see such a Jaguar and will always try to take a picture of it.John, Indeed, the car looks like the Jaguar ornament on the hood who can jump away at any moment with full force. Thanks Terry and John.Jan O.

Wonderful stuff, Jan! A little happy Jaguar scene at one of those Dinky Toys collectors days at my home below (October 2009) Kind regards, Jan W

This is an other great post from Ian but I think that the Jaguar was deleted from the Dinky Toys range in 1964, not 1965. The catalogue shown is of 1960, the year when the 3.4 Jag. was issued. The picture above shows part of the 1964 U.K. catalogue.Jacques

Jacques. Thank you for your much appreciated comment and addition. I base my comment on the availability of sales No.195 until 1965 on the added UK price list belonging to the UK catalogue 1965 2nd edition of August 1965. Although there is no image of 195 in the catalogue, it does state that 195 is available for the price of 3/11. Jan O.

Thank you Ian, I was mistaken by the 1960 catalogue. The price list that you posted above is the last document mentioning the marque Supertoys. Why this marque was droped still remains a mystery.

Jan, I have changed the end date of this Dinky model. Please, feel free - of course only if you are sure - to adapt the title given in the pdf list if it's not correct. An update of that list is obviously necessary. By the way, however nice this model may be, like many contemporary Dinky Toys, it is seriously spoilt in my opinion by the too short axles / too recessed wheels in order to facilitate steering wheel and related 'features' of the period. This is exactly the period in which my interest in Dinky Toys diminishes considerably. In their advertising pictures, however, Meccano seems to flatter or correct the unattractive view of the recessed wheels frequently. Kind regards, Jan

1965 was also the end of the traditional appointment of the order of the editions of the Dinky Toys catalogues. I always thought the count started in 1952, but was not consistently mentioned on all catalogues of each year. The UK catalogue of 1959 mentioned for the first time the 7th edition, but if it started in 1952 with the first editon it had to be the eigth edition in 1959 and not the seventh. So it must be started in 1953?? After that, from 1959, an edition listing appeared every year on the catalogues until 1965, when the last 13th edition appeared, as attached. But also not consistently on all catalogues of each year.After that a new counting started in 1966 with the 1st edition, in which 2 editions were immediately issued in 1966, because too few catalogues had been printed ?? After that followed from 1967 the number 3 to number 14 in 1978, but now consistently numbered in each successive year, usually 2 printings per year. But the products were no longer made as solidly as before. Jan, many thanks for the correction.Jan O

Jacques-Do you mean besides the much earlier Austin Atlantic and many of the French models? Best regards, Terry

Hello Terry What I want to know is if the Jag.and the other three lodels had recessed door lines.