A progressive development of the Mk1, Jaguar’s first unitary-construction saloon, the Mk2 made its debut in October 1959.

Slimmer windscreen pillars and deeper side windows greatly enlarged the Mk2's glass area, and the deletion of its predecessor’s full-sized rear wheel spats allowed the rear track to be widened, a move which increased roll resistance and stability.

Otherwise, running gear remained much the same as before, with independent front suspension by wishbones and coil springs, leaf-sprung live rear axle and Dunlop servo-assisted disc brakes (optional at first on the Mk1 but standard from November 1957) on all four wheels.

A re-designed dashboard with speedometer and rev-counter ahead of the driver and minor gauges grouped centrally established Jaguar’s layout for years to come.

With the Mk2’s arrival, the 3.8-litre version of Jaguar’s XK ‘six’ became available for the first time in the company's medium-sized saloon.

This engine, used previously in the MkIX saloon, produ...