Jaguar Mark IX

Jaguar Mark IX
3.8 litre
first registered April 1960
Overview
Manufacturer Jaguar Cars
Production 1959–1961
10,009 produced[1]
Body and chassis
Class Full-size luxury car (F)
Powertrain
Engine 3781 cc, 220 hp (164 kW) I-6
Dimensions
Wheelbase 120 in (3,048 mm) [2]
Length 196.5 in (4,990 mm)[3]
Width 75 in (1,900 mm)[3]
Height 63 in (1,600 mm)[3]
Kerb weight 4,000 lb (1,800 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor Jaguar Mark VIII
Successor Jaguar Mark X
Jaguar MK-IX

The Jaguar Mark IX is a four-door luxury saloon car produced by Jaguar Cars between 1959 and 1961. It replaced the previous Mark VIII. The early versions were identical in exterior appearance to the Mark VIII except for the addition of a chrome "Mk IX" badge to the boot lid. Later versions had a larger tail-lamp assembly with the addition of an amber section for traffic indication, visually similar to the tail-lights of the smaller Jaguar Mark 2. It was replaced by the lower and more contemporary-styled Mark X in 1961.

The Mark IX was popular as a ceremonial car for state dignitaries. When Charles de Gaulle paid a state visit to Canada in 1960, the official cars for the motorcade were Mark IX Jaguars. The British Queen Mother had a Jaguar Mark VII which was progressively upgraded to be externally identical to the later Mark IX. The Nigerian government bought forty Mark IXs, painted in the Nigerian state colours of green and white. The large Jaguars of the 1950s were sufficiently popular in western Africa that "Jagwah" survives as a colloquialism for "smart man-about-town".

In the luxury car market, the Jaguar Mk IX was very competitively priced, selling for ₤1995 with manual gearbox, ₤2063 with overdrive, and ₤2163 with automatic transmission, which was less than half the price of similar competitors.

Features

A four-speed manual system transmission was standard. Options included overdrive and a Borg Warner three-speed automatic box, the most popular choice.[4]

Internally, an enlarged-bore 3.8 L (231 in³), 220 bhp (164.1 kW) DOHC straight-6 replaced the previous 3.4 L (210 in³) 190 bhp (141.7 kW) unit. The B-type head of the Mark VIII was retained, but with a chamfer at the bottom of the combustion chamber to accommodate the enlarged bore. Twin HD6 1.75" SU carburettors were fitted. A smaller electromagnetically controlled auxiliary carburettor was placed between the main pair of carburettors to act as a choke. It often proved troublesome in operation and many were converted to manual switching . Standard compression ratio was 8:1, but a higher performance 9:1 compression ratio was also available, as was a 7:1 compression ratio for export markets, such as Africa, where quality of petrol was sometimes a problem.

The Mark IX was the first production Jaguar to offer four-wheel servo-assisted Dunlop disc brakes and recirculating ball power steering, which were now standard equipment. The brake system included a vacuum reserve tank to preserve braking in the event that the engine stalled. On models with automatic transmission, the brakes were equipped with an electromagnetic valve that maintained brake pressure at rest when the brake pedal was released to prevent the car from rolling back on an incline, hence its colloquial name "Hill Holder" ( the actual name used by Jaguar was "anti-creep"). This was sometimes troublesome (failing to release the brakes when the accelerator was depressed) and was disconnected on some cars without ill effect.

The power steering was driven by a Hobourn-Eaton pump, operating at 600-650 psi. It was attached to the back of the generator and allowed the steering to be geared up to 3.5 turns lock-to-lock as against the 4.5 turns for the Mark VII and VIII models.

Unlike the early automatic Mark VII predecessor,( but like late mark VII and all Mark VIII, the Borg Warner DG automatic gearbox started in first gear and had a dash-mounted switch to allow second gear to be held indefinitely. Once in third gear, a series of clutches engaged to allow direct drive rather than through the torque converter.

The torsion bar independent front suspension and leaf-sprung rear live axle were retained from the Mk VIII, which, in turn, was first used in the 1949 Mark V.

Final drive was 4.27:1, (4.55:1 when overdrive was fitted).

The sunshine roof became a standard fitting for the UK market. The interior was luxurious, with extensive use of leather, burled walnut and deep pile carpet. A range of single and duo-tone paint schemes was offered.

Performance

1960 Jaguar MK-IX restored in 2014

A car with automatic transmission tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1958 had a top speed of 114.4 mph (184.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 11.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of 14.3 miles per imperial gallon (19.8 L/100 km; 11.9 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £2162 including taxes of £721.[3] In addition, the Mark IX attained 30 mph in 4.2 seconds, and 100 mph in 34.8 secs. It covered the standing quarter mile in 18.1 secs.

Autocar magazine tested a Mk IX Automatic in its Used Cars on the Road series, number 200, published in the edition dated 14 December 1962. This vehicle at the recorded mileage of around 34,000 achieved acceleration figures of 0-60 mph in 10.1secs and 0-100 in 28.8secs. The Standing Quarter-mile was passed in 17.6secs.

Classic racing circuit

The Mark IX's power and good brakes for a vehicle of the era, together with its undoubtedly impressive aesthetic appearance, makes it quite a common choice for classic car circuit racing, such as at the Goodwood Circuit's Revival meetings.

References

  1. ↑ "Oldtimer Katalog". Nr. 23. Königswinter: HEEL Verlag GmbH. 2009: Seite 187. ISBN 978-3-86852-067-5.
  2. ↑ Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The jaguar Mark IX". The Motor. 8 October 1958.
  4. ↑ Gloor, Roger (2007). Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945 - 1960 (1st ed.). Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1.

Langworth, Richard M. (ed.) (2001). The Complete Book of Collectable Cars. Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-4313-X.

SS Cars Ltd / Jaguar Cars timeline, 1930s–1970s—next »
Type 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
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Sports SS 90 SS 100 Production interrupted by World War II XK120 XK140 XK150 E-Type S1 E-Type S2 E-Type S3 XJ-S
Saloon SS 1 / SS 2 Mark 1 Mark 2, 240, 340
SS 1½ litre Jaguar 1½ litre S-Type XJ-C
SS 2½ litre Jaguar 2½ litre 420 XJ6 S1 XJ6 S2
SS 3½ litre Jaguar 3½ litre Mk V Mk VII Mk VIII Mk IX Mk X 420G XJ12 S1 XJ12 S2
Supercar XKSS
Racing C-Type D-Type E-Type XJ13 XJ-C XJ41 / XJ42
Ownership Independent (SS Cars Ltd) Independent (renamed Jaguar Cars) BMH British Leyland
Jaguar MK-IX Interior
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