Jaguar Mk 1: How It Changed The Car Industry |
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| Topics: Jaguar
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William Jason
SubmitYOURArticle.com
March 30, 2011
If you are looking for a car that exudes class even after decades have gone by, perhaps you need the Jaguar Mark 1 or the Mk 1. This is usually referred to as the Jaguar 2.4 liter or 3.4 liter Saloon in contemporary documentation. The Mark 1 or Mk 1 tag was appended when it was replaced by the Mark 2. The Mk 1 had success early on, as it was the first small saloon that rolled out of the car maker's doors. It easily outsold other larger saloons from the same maker, and was an immediate competitor against cars of the same class.
The Jaguar Mk 1 is considered as a classic car not just by its age but also because of its impact in the car industry. The 2.4 and 3.4 Mk 1s introduced a modern style and upgraded the level of performance for cars made by Jaguar. It was the first Jaguar that featured a unitary construction of its chassis and body. This was one of the earliest attempts at unibody construction, and it was greatly successful. The Mk 1 has an independent front suspension, which has double wishbones, coil springs, as well as an anti-roll bar to boot.
The interior of the Jaguar Mk 1 is one of the best proofs that this car exudes class well beyond its years. The design of the interior is similar to the succeeding Jaguar saloons and even modern day sports cars. You'll find that sitting inside the Mk 1 would feel luxurious. The dials and switches are located on the central dashboard between you and your passenger. It has authentic leather upholstery and a polished walnut trim. There is a Special Equipment version of the Mk 1, wherein it features an additional rev counter, heater, windscreen washers, fog lights, and a cigarette lighter. It was meant for mass consumption, but the thought given behind its designs was truly outstanding that it is one of the most sought-after cars today.
In terms of performance, a 2.4 liter Mk 1 was tested and was found to have a top speed of 101.5 mph or 163.3 km/h. It is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in just 14.4 seconds. It also has a decent mileage of 18.25 miles per imperial gallon, or in modern day measurements, around 15.2 mpg. The 3.4 version garnered better results, and because of this, the Jaguar Mk 1 3.4 liter saloon has competed in a lot of rallies, touring cars, and saloon races, and was quite successful during its run.