#1963 JAGUAR MARKX FREE#
#1963 JAGUAR MARKX WINDOWS#

But there was another quality about the car that suggested another set of genes. So yes, the Mark X could plausibly have been related to the Hudson. If you ignore the price differential, the Jaguar and Hudson were similar enough in their sporty personas and advanced features that the Mark X arguably came the closest of any early-60s car to being the spiritual heir to the step-downs. In keeping with its luxury-car price tag, the Mark X had all manner of old-world features, such as leather seats and “polished walnut vanity tables” with built-in mirrors ( Jag-Lovers Brochure Library). Whereas Hudson straddled the low-to-middle reaches of the premium-priced class, the 1962 Mark X listed for almost $7,400, a good $800 more than Cadillac’s exclusive Eldorado Biarritz convertible. The main difference between the Mark X and the step-downs was that the Jaguar was priced considerably higher.

#1963 JAGUAR MARKX FREE#

It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that the Mark X looks like a 1952 Hudson two-door coupe (top image) that has been been sat on by Paul Bunyon ( Old Car Brochures and Free Car Brochures, respectively). The Mark X’s styling had neo-classical elements such as a radiator grille, but its relatively low greenhouse, wide stance and aggressive profile could be seen as a more modern interpretation of the Hudson step-downs. Click on image to enlarge ( Jag-Lovers Brochure Library). Jaguar marketing emphasized the Mark X’s advancements. I could see Hudson going in this direction if it had managed stay alive and independent into the 1960s. The Mark X showcased impressive features such as fully-independent front and rear suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels. Just as Hudson had placed an emphasis on advanced engineering, so too did Jaguar. Jaguar attempted to compensate for the heft with a straight six that had roughly the same displacement as an entry-level Wasp (231 cubic inches) but was souped up even more than the Hornet’s famed Twin H-Power engines. For example, the Jaguar was almost three inches lower than a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SE and almost as low as a Lincoln Continental, which was a forerunner of today’s coupe sedans (go here for further discussion).Īlso like the Hudson, the Jaguar had a unitized body that was heavy for its class. Indeed, its 54.5-inch height was on the short side for four-door sedans of the early-1960s. The most visible difference between the Jaguar and the Hudson was that the Mark X was almost six inches lower. The Mark X had almost the same wheelbase, length and width as a 1954 Wasp, which was the entry-level big Hudson. The Jaguar was strikingly similar in size to the 1948-54 Hudson step-down. Mark X was the spiritual heir to the Hudson step-down Pictured is a 1971 model ( Jag-Lovers Brochure Library). However, it was considerably smaller, lighter and more athletic looking. The Jaguar XJ carried over some key styling cues from the Mark X, such as the classic radiator grille. This was a much bigger beast than the XJ. What exacerbated the Mark X’s bloated look was that Jaguar management apparently insisted on mimicking the dimensions of standard-sized American cars of the early-50s. In addition, the fenders received a pontoon shape that would have been considered audacious even in the early-50s. Contrary to early-60s trends, the Mark X had a high beltline with a rounded cowl and deck. Part of the problem was that Jaguar stylists were too attached to the design peculiarities of the 1950s.

Unfortunately, the dominant impression is of an animal balloon that was inflated too much. If you squint you can see the beginnings of the legendary XJ in the Mark X’s styling.

Pictured are 1963 models ( Jag-Lovers Brochure Library).

#1963 JAGUAR MARKX WINDOWS#

For example, whereas the Mark X’s side windows canted inward to an unusual degree, they were relatively upright on the XK-E. The Mark X and XK-E had little family resemblance. How could such different cars come from the same designers? But whereas Jaguar’s new sports car was exceptionally svelte, the British automaker’s luxury sedan was big, fat and ill-proportioned. Oh, the irony that Jaguar unveiled the Mark X in 1961 - the same year as the XK-E ( Wikipedia, 2021a, 2021b). The Jaguar Mark X may have a commanding presence, but it also looks like the lovechild of a Hudson step-down and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

1963 jaguar markx