OSV Investigates: The Mystery of the Inspector Morse Jaguar

All you need to know about the iconic Inspector Morse Jaguar.

As part of ITV’s eagerly awaited Morse prequel, Endeavour, fans get to discover how Morse’s most enduring love affair started.

It’s not a woman of course, it’s the iconic burgundy Inspector Morse Jaguar Mark 2 that he drove throughout his career.

Viewers will get to see a young Morse being brought back to Oxford as part of a hunt for a missing schoolgirl, a case which profoundly changes his life.

The origins of Morse’s trademark passions, including classic cars, will be unravelled too.

The drama was commissioned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first Morse episode, broadcasted in 1987. Shaun Evans has the somewhat daunting task of living up to John Thaw’s much-loved portrayal of Colin Dexter’s detective.

Bringing Morse and his Jaguar together

Set in the mid sixties, Endeavour sees Morse securing the car that will be his faithful companion until death.

Lucky Wargrave service and MOT centre in Berkshire was chosen as the setting, and was transformed into a retro garage, complete with bunting, petrol pumps and a collection of mouth-watering classic cars.

Like others, Manager Tim Englefield was delighted to get a glimpse of Morse’s beloved Jaguar Mark 2 during filming.

So far all that’s been revealed is that the youthful Endeavor Morse finds his dream car on sale for £1,227 – an asking price perhaps beyond the budget of a young police officer, especially one fighting to maintain his career.

Icon of British motoring history

The Inspector Morse Jaguar was a Jaguar Mark 2 which was released in 1959 in the UK and carried on until its reign of production ended in 1967.  It was designed accordingly to embody the ideals of grace, pace and space. The top speed was registered at 119.9 mph and it could get to 62 mph from standing in 11.9 seconds.

Becoming a signature of the incredibly popular detective show was a matter of chance though. On taking the role of Morse, John Thaw insisted that the Lancia Morse drove in the books was changed to a Jaguar Mark 2.

Following a career of near-misses that often had the hearts of classic car lovers in their mouths, the Inspector Morse Jaguar mark 2 used in the series was sold in November 2005 for over £100,000. It was later reported in 2009 that the man who bought the Inspector Morse Jaguar, John Potts, 60, was the director of a buy-to-let company who conned his investors out of £80 million to fund his extravagant lifestyle! He went to prison serving a 5 year jail term. Ironically enough, it should have been a case for Morse himself.

The one-off Endeavour episode will air next spring.

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