Origins

• A 1939 3.5-liter SS model.
  
  The company was originally founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company, but changed its name to Jaguar Cars Ltd. after World War II.
  
  

Early Models

• A 1950 Mark V model.
  
  The company started its automobile production building cars powered by 1.5-, 2.5- and 3.5-liter engines provided by the Standard Motor Company.
  
  

Mark V

• The first true Jaguar sports car, a 1950 XK120.
  
  The Mark V was Jaguar's first postwar vehicle that was equipped with a 2.5- or 3.5-liter engine that featured hydraulic brakes and independent front suspension.
  
  

The 1950s

• The 1969 XKE coupe.
  
  The XK120 proved to be a remarkably agile and fast car, and Jaguar's success was cemented with the XK140 and the XK150 models.
  
  

XK Series

• A 2008 XK-8 convertible.
  
  The XK120 sports car put Jaguar on the map as a luxury sports car maker. The 1961-74 E-Type, or XKE Series, was Jaguar's greatest accomplishment, with 70,000 units built.
  
  

Owners

• Jaguar merged with British Motor Corporation to create British Motor Holdings in 1966, and was sold to Ford in 1989. Ford sold Jaguar to Tata Motors in 2008.