What happened to Endeavour Morse's - Black Jaguar MK1

09 January, 2024

Project Utah - The development of the 100mph 2483cc sports saloon

By 1955 Jaguar Cars Ltd had established a worldwide reputation as a manufacturer of  high performance sports cars and luxury saloons with accolades in the international sporting arena for speed and endurance. 

However, the compact Jaguar 2.4 litre sports saloon with 5 seats, a walnut-and-leather interior, and the firm's first monocoque chassis-less car was seeking out a market segment that would be more resilient in times of economic downturn despite the niche markets it had developed in the export market.

The development of these markets, especially that of the USA had been influenced out of the necessity immediately after the end of the war when the only way for companies to get steel from HM's Ministry of Supply was to manufacture a viable exportable product - no steel meant you went out of business. 

 

Project Utah - The development of the 100mph 2483cc sports saloonThe Jaguar 2.4 litre was unveiled to the public at the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show

A 1959 Jaguar 2.4 litre Mk 1 with spats next to a Jaguar Mk 2 A 1959 Jaguar 2.4 litre Mk 1 with spats next to a Jaguar Mk 2

This is an extract from "The Motor" published on October 12th 1955 and marketing the Jaguar 2.4 litre launch on Stand 154 at Earls Court.

"To the already famous range of Jaguars exemplified by the Mark VII and XK 140 models, comes the 2.4 litre jaguar saloon, a brilliant newcomer in which will be found the embodiment of all the highly specialised technical knowledge and engineering achievement that have gained for the name of Jaguar the highest international repute. 

For over four years Jaguar engineers and technicians have worked to produce, not simply a new model, but an entirely new car of such outstanding merit as to be worthy of presentation to a world which has for long of being accustomed to expect great things from Jaguar. 

How well they have succeeded is made manifest by the specification and performance of the 2.4 Litre, a car which derives its character and breeding from every reward of Jaguar endeavour, every phase of Jaguar achievement and every lesson learned in the hard school of international racing. 

In its outward appearance, the unmistakable Jaguar line of grace is seen with lesser, more compact overall dimensions than those of the mark VII, yet the interior has been so skilfully planned that full accommodation for five persons is provided and further provision made for generous luggage accommodation. "

"As its name implies, the "Two-point-Four" is powered by an engine of 2.4 litres capacity and is the latest development of the famous six cylinder, double overhead camshaft, twin carburettor XK engine which, in engineering circles throughout the world, is acclaimed as the most advanced high efficiency production engine in existence.

With a power output of 112 brake horsepower and power / weight ratio of 90 brake horsepower per ton, phenomenal acceleration is placed at the drivers command and, if desired, a maximum speed of over 100 mph reached with the ease, silence and refinement which are amongst the inimitable characteristics of every Jaguar.

Allied to these characteristics are superb roadholding and braking qualities inseparable from all Jaguar cars.


To those motorists whose desire for a car of compact dimensions is a matter of personal preference the opportunity is at last presented, not only for satisfying that desire, but for gratifying a natural wish to own a car, the mere possession of which indicates insistence on owning nothing but the best.....a Jaguar."

Car ownership in the 1950"s

*In 1950 there were just under 2 million cars registered in the UK with only 14% of households owning a car. By 1998 the number of cars registered had reached over 21.6 million vehicles with over 70% of households owning at least one car.

Despite the low number of cars, traffic jams were a fact of life and motorways were being contemplated as far back as 1937 resulting in the PrestonBy-pass, the first and thus experimental motorway.

In 1958 of 8.26 miles incorporating 19 bridges relieved Preston of the traffic burden on the A6 between Manchester/ Bolton and Blackpool/Lancaster

Britain's rising wealth and prosperity post war during the second half of the 20th century resulted in a threefold increase in disposable household income, along with a decrease in terms in the cost associated with owning a car which has seen a tenfold increase in car ownership.

 

Car ownership in the 1950"sThe Morris Minor 1000 Convertible

 

The 1172 cc 1955 Ford AngliaThe 1172 cc 1955 Ford Anglia

Improving road networks and competitive road freight

Car traffic has grown 15 fold since 1950, from an estimated 26 billion vehicle kilometres to 371 billion vehicle kilometres in 1998, while bus traffic has remained relatively static.

Similarly, although the number of heavy goods vehicles registered has not changed significantly since 1950 the displacement of rail as the dominant mode of freight transport and the development of larger good vehicles has led to a threefold overall increase in their use from an estimated 11 billion vehicle kilometres to 32 billion (32,000,000,000 - that's a lot of zero's) vehicle kilometres in 1998.

£100 in 1955 is the equivalent in purchasing power to £3,288.02 today

Just to give you some perspective on the cost of living in 1955, according to the Nationwide House Price Index the average of all UK houses was £1928 which when broken down further  shows:

  • £2122 for a new house
  • £2022 for a modern house 
  • £1580 for older houses

Average weekly earnings of industrial wage earners shown by Ministry of Labour inquiries in 1955 was £9 2s. 3d.

Mean gross weekly earnings for Adult Full-Time Employees in Great Britain was £10.8s for men and £5.6s for women.

An article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 25th March 1955 from their Staff Correspondent in London had a title of "U.K. AVERAGE WAGES AT RECORD LEVEL" 

The article featured average earnings from a Ministry of Labour report issued on 24th March showing that the U.K. Average wage of men in the United Kingdom is now £9,9s, a week; and women more than £5 a week.

The article gave details of Men working in:

  • aircraft factories averaging £11,9s,2d a week, 
  • car factories £10,2s,2d (boosted by over-time and bonus payments), 
  • miners at £12,11s,2d a week 
  • local council workmen at £7,4s, 5d.

In "old money" (Pre decimal - decimalisation arrived in 1971) £1 = 20 shillings, 1 shilling = 12 pence £1 = 240 pence and a Guinea was 21 shillings.

£100 in 1955 would be equivalent in purchasing power to about £3,288.02 today (Jan 11th 2024)*

A house for £1937, a Ford Anglia for £511.00

Some approximate prices for 1955 were:

  • A Gallon of petrol    4s 6½d
  • Pint of beer (bottled) 1s 11d
  • 20 cigarettes    3s 7d
  • Loaf of bread (white, unwrapped)    7½d
  • Loose leaf tea 4oz    1s 8½d
  • Sugar 1lb 8d    
  • Pint of milk    7d
  • Butter ½lb    1s 11d
  • Cheddar cheese 1lb    2s 6d (that's Half a Crown)
  • Margarine 1lb     1s 8½d    
  • Lard 1lb [*]    1s 11d    
  • Eggs 1 dozen    4s 7d
  • Potatoes lb     3d remember the old "thrupenny bit"?
  • Cabbages lb     4½d    
  • Onions lb     5½d    
  • Eating apples lb 1s 1d
  • Oranges lb     11d
  • Cocoa lb     4s 6d
  • Coal - 1cwt     6s 8d
  • Penguin chocolate bar    3½d
  • Bush TV53 14" television 65 guineas (Black and white of course, Colour arrived in 1967 first showing the Wimbledon tennis championships - The Black and White TV licence was £5, The colour TV licence would be £10.00 )
  • Ferranti M55 radio    13½ guineas
  • Qualcast Panther push lawn mower    £7 7s 5d
  • The Daily Mirror newspaper    2d    17p
  • Average house price    £1,937
  • Ford Anglia car    £511  
  • GEC refrigerator    65 guineas
  • Hoover washing machine    61 guineas
  • Invincible vacuum cleaner    £19 17s 6d

Classic Cars of the 50's

Some of the best selling passenger cars in the UK 1955 included the:

  • Morris Minor at £522 including tax and delivery
  • Austin A30 at £529.00
  • The Ford Popular 103e cost £390 inc taxes and was at it's launch Britains lowest price car. 
  • The Hillman Minx De Luxe 1390cc (Mark 8) £681,2s,6d
  • The Standard 8 £481 inc taxes.
  • The Humber Hawk was £695.00 plus purchase taxes (at 33% on all cars at that time.
  • The Rover 90 P4 2,638cc was £1418, 17s inc tax for the basic model which did include a heater and demisting unit, a clock, map light and rear interior lights.
    Extras's such as radio were £49 16s, Overdrive £67 10s, and bucket seats £15.00.

The autocar review of 1956 said of the Rover 90 “it was difficult to think of any other accessory that could have added to comfort”.
 

 

Classic Cars of the 50's The 1955 Hillman Minx de luxe Mark 8 1390cc

Austin A30 yours for £529

Austin A30 yours for £529Austin's answer to the Morris Minor - Between 1951 and 1956 production of the monocoque frameless chassis A30 reached 223,264

The Jaguar 2.4 Litre started at £1269 and 10d

The 1955 Jaguar 2.4 Litre came in two versions:

  • Standard model: £895 (with purchase tax £1,269.0.10) £1,269, no shillings and tenpence.
  • Special equipment model: £916 (With purchase tax £1,298.15.10 )(£1298, 15 shillings and tenpence.

The Standard version retailing at £21-00 less than the SE lacked fog lights and cigarette lighter ( forgivable ) a tachometer (nearly unforgivable as a performance car), heater (available as an option, but unforgivable), and windscreen washers.

In 1955, Jaguar invested £1 million in developing a unitary body chassis, aiming for mass production to captivate the UK market. This investment, equivalent to £32.8 million in 2024, necessitated substantial car sales to justify the expense, exceeding any previous achievements.

Over 130,000 of the stately luxury Rover P4 series were manufactured from 1949 to 1964 Over 130,000 of the stately luxury Rover P4 series were manufactured from 1949 to 1964

Rover 90 P4 opulent with leather upholstery Interior Picture courtesy of Charles01Rover 90 P4 opulent with leather upholstery Interior Picture courtesy of Charles01

Restorations