1959 Jaguar Mk1 3.4-Liter Sports Saloon
Positioned between Jaguar’s XK sports cars and the larger Mark VII saloon, the compact executive model introduced unitary construction to the Coventry marque in 1955. American dealers quickly demanded more performance from the initial 2.4-liter version, prompting the introduction of the 210-cubic-inch (3.4-liter) variant in February 1957.
Borrowed from the XK140 and XK150, the larger twin-cam inline-six produced 210 horsepower, delivering approximately 120 mph top speed and around nine-second acceleration to 60 mph.
A larger front grille distinguished the 3.4-liter externally while improving cooling, and cutaway rear wheel spats accommodated optional wire wheels while enhancing brake cooling. Four-wheel disc brakes, introduced in late 1957, became standard equipment shortly thereafter.
Independent front suspension employed double wishbones with coil springs mounted in a rubber-isolated subframe. The live rear axle used inverted semi-elliptic springs cantilevered into the body structure.
A Borg-Warner automatic transmission joined the options list in September 1957. Production continued until October 1959, when the model received comprehensive revisions and emerged as the Mark 2.
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