Jaguar actually began life in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company, with the business originally making motorcycle sidecars before moving on to begin developing bodies for passenger cars.
The marque would go on to make a name for itself producing outstanding sports cars under the motto ‘grace, space, pace’. Cars such as the Jaguar XK150 (1957-61) and the Jaguar E-Type (1961-75) which Enzo Ferrari described as ‘the most beautiful car ever made.’ Like other manufacturers Jaguar’s owners were drawn to the international motor racing scene and the Jaguar team would go on to win the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1951, 1953, 1956 and 1957.
But Jaguar is also known for building beautiful saloon cars, such as the Mark II, a medium-sized saloon car built between 1959-1967. The car was popular with the police and criminals alike, with many a getaway driver opting for a Mark II. The car is perhaps known as the vehicle of choice for the fictional television detective Inspector Morse. In the books, Morse drove a Lancia, but actor John Thaw is reputed to have insisted his character drive a British car. It appeared in all 33 episodes of the television show and was sold at auction for £53,200. It has since had a full restoration costing in excess of £100,000.