Jaguar Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Mk 2 with High-fashion Photos
Specially commissioned ‘Rooms by Rankin’ photographs celebrate design of XF, XE and legendary Mk 2 sports saloon.
Jaguar marks the 60th anniversary of the inimitable Mk 2 with a very special set of photographs that pay homage to the style, creativity and individuality of one of the world’s best-loved saloon cars.
“Rooms by Rankin” is a unique partnership between Jaguar and renowned British fashion photographer John Rankin Waddell, who goes by simply Rankin, designed to celebrate the character of three key models: XF, XE and Mk 2.
For the third and final instalment, Rankin created “Period Drama” for the Mk 2 – a bespoke, white-out room complete with a mesmerising pattern of black polka dots.
“The Jaguar Mk 2 is a very special car – undeniably beautiful and well-proportioned,” said Waddell. “I wanted to create something that celebrated the Mk 2’s form and its heritage, but also had a thoroughly modern edge to it. That’s why I chose to use polka dots.”
‘I wanted to create something that celebrated the Mk 2’s form and its heritage, but also had a thoroughly modern edge to it. That’s why I chose to use polka dots.’
“Polka dots are perfect for the Mk 2,” added Jaguar’s design director, Julian Thomson. “They can be wistfully nostalgic and they also have a modern currency that makes them a timeless classic. Rankin has managed to produce a truly stand-out creation. It’s elegant and has a captivating charm that we all appreciate at Jaguar.”
The Mk 2 featured in the “Rooms by Rankin” partnership is a Dark Blue 3.8-litre manual from the Jaguar Classic Collection. In addition to the active vehicle collection housed at its Classic Works facility in Coventry, Jaguar Classic offers sales, servicing, restoration expertise and parts to keep these treasured classics on the road for future generations to appreciate.
Launched in 1959 at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, the Jaguar Mk 2 became an overnight sensation with its daring design, graceful curves and powerful XK-derived six-cylinder engines, including the top-of-the-range 3.8-liter that delivered 220bhp and a top speed of 125 mph.
In addition to its supreme road-handling performance, the Jaguar Mk 2 was extremely competitive on the race track, scoring countless saloon car victories in the hands of greats such as Roy Salvadori and Graham Hill.