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 be 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 the case for Morse himself.
The one-off Endeavour episode will air next spring. Keep yourself updated with the latest motoring news online by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter or connecting with us on LinkedIn.If you’re interested in buying or leasing a new vehicle contact our sales team. Alternatively, visit our website where you will find new Jaguars available for sale or on finance.
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35 Comments
That is the John Thaw part of the story. Endeavor, the Shaun Evan’s part of the story, shows Endeavor in season 1, episode 1, driving a black jaguar. He came from humble beginnings, so how did he acquire the jaguar?
I noticed that Morse’s Mark 2 Jaguar has the modern three point harness retractable safety belt system. Was the car retrofit with the safety belt system, or was Jaguar that far ahead of its competitors?
We love inspector Morse and Lewis. We use our Carmen red Mk 2 from 1963. We have personal licence plate here in Sweden: MORSE.
For the future we will paint the roof in black.
Mats and Moa Rosén
My grandparents were the original owners of the car that stars in Inspector Morse. My father was stopped by the police while speeding in it when he was in his early 20s but was let off! We have lots of photos of my grandfather with the car (my grandmother couldn’t drive) and they treated it like one of the family.
Hi there Tim, thank you for sharing your fascinating connection to the Inspector Morse car! It’s wonderful to hear about the personal history and memories associated with it. Cars often become more than just vehicles; they become a part of family stories and nostalgia. If you’d be happy to be featured in one of our social posts regarding this story, kindly confirm by emailing [email protected].
To Tom Henwood, your Mark 2 sounds gorgeous! Will you be showing it at the Duryea Days event in Boyertown on September 2nd? I would just love to see your baby!