Top 6 Classic Jaguars Of All Time

By Barbara Fisher


It is no secret that Jaguar, the renowned British car maker, has produced many cars that rank highly in the looks and speed department. While every automobile comes with certain qualities that make it unique, some have far exceeded expectation to become standout performers. This article highlights 6 classic Jaguars whose style and performance continue to impress to date.

The first one on the list is the E Type. Many automobile experts regard it as the best that the manufacturer has ever made. Not only was it the best looking car at its prime, but a top performing one as well.

When put on the road with cars from other makers, it clearly outdistanced them on many fronts. This was aided by its 3.8 liter six cylinder engine. Later versions came with an engine enhancement to 4.2 liters. Its final change was an improvement to accommodate a 5.3 liter V12 engine version.

Next is the XKSS. This model was created in 1956. Not much work went to its production as it relied on the chassis of the D Type race car. The production team only had to make a few modifications to the chassis.

For instance, a passenger seat was added to it. The model was marketed as a simple car and not for racing purposes. As only a limited number from the model got to the market, an intact one today is going to cost you a significant amount.

The XK120 sits in third place. Many know it as the first race car to be made by the firm following World War Two. The manufacture year was 1948. Its 3.4 liter engine was the six cylinder type. Originally, it came with 160 horsepower. This was quickly enhanced to 210 by 1954.

That very year, the model was replaced with the XK140. The latter encompassed some important enhancements, including an engine that was more powerful. The XK150 later phased it out in 1957, bringing the XK era to an end. The XK150 had 265 horsepower, which was a great improvement.

In fourth place is the XJS. It was the darling of the motoring world for twenty years, ending its dominance at the tail end of the 1980s. Initially, it was produced as a coupe. Convertible versions soon took hold of the market. It had two engine variants, these being the 6 and 12 liter versions. The XJR S replaced it in 1988. This model looked more appealing and performed way better.

Also worth mentioning, and occupying fifth position, are the Mark 1 and Mark 2. These two models were not built to be sports cars, but were rather released as sedans. Nevertheless, they were pretty fast on the road. Both of them were powered by six inline engines. The Mark 2 was more powerful nonetheless, with its 3.8 liter engine outperforming the 3.4 liter variant in the Mark 1.

In sixth place sits the SS 100. It was marketed as the first true race car under the brand. It was targeted at improving on the underperformance of the SS 90, its predecessor. Its engine capacity was 2.5 L. Later, it was upgraded to 3.5 L, spearheading its track dominance.




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