Jaguar Mark X

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The Jaguar Mark X, later known as the Jaguar 420G, was Jaguar’s large luxury sedan built from 1961 to 1970. It replaced the Mark IX and brought a new, modern look with an upright front end and four round headlights, plus a long, wide body that set the tone for Jaguar saloon design for years.

The Mark X used a unitary bodyshell called Zenith and featured advanced tech for its time, including independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. It rode on 14-inch wheels. Power started with the 3.8-litre XK inline-six engine (about 250–265 bhp). In 1964–65 the car moved to a larger 4.2-litre engine with a new all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox; some markets kept a Borg-Warner automatic. Transmission choices were manual, manual with overdrive, or automatic. Top speed was around 120 mph.

In 1966 the car was renamed the 420G and received subtle styling updates—such as a vertical bar in the grille and side indicator repeaters—along with interior refinements like a padded dashboard and, later, optional air conditioning. A long-wheelbase eight-seater version was developed by Vanden Plas and used by others, while Daimler’s DS420 followed later on a related extended design. The Mark X/420G remained Jaguar’s flagship until 1970.

Production totals were roughly: 3.8-litre Mark X, 13,382 cars; 4.2-litre, 5,137; and 420G, 5,763. It was one of the widest Jaguars ever built and left a lasting influence on the brand’s saloon styling.