The Jaguar S-Type marque has been applied to two distinct ranges of vehicles from this British manufacturer over the years, with many decades separating the two despite their notable ideological similarities.

The first S-Type emerged in 1963 when Jaguar was looking to revise its Mark 2 design in order to improve it from both the point of view of technology and luxury.

The S-Type fitted into the range between the aforementioned Mark 2 and the high end Mark X, giving mid range buyers an executive saloon to consider.

To keep things simple, Jaguar retained the use of existing 3.4 litre and 3.8 litre engines which it had already put into service in other models.

While many elements of the S-Type were carried over from the Mark 2, it did get the Mark X's independent rear suspension which added an extra degree of comfort and luxury to the ride quality.

In addition the steering got an overhaul and the styling of the S-Type was given its own unique aspects to keep it distinct from its stable mates.

The original S-Type survived until 1968, at which point it was superseded by the incoming Jaguar XJ6.

In the late 1990s Jaguar decided that it would revisit the S-Type with a modern model which would nevertheless retain elements of its retro styling.

The result was the name-sharing S-Type, which was put on sale in 1999. With engines ranging in size from 2.5 litres to 4.2 litres, there was plenty of choice to fit a variety of budgets.

In 2003 the S-Type received a number of updates, both aesthetic and technical. This included a new 6 speed automatic gearbox and a 3.0 litre V6 engine which could output 235bhp, an increase of 25hp over its predecessor.

Designers also attempted to bring the 2003 S-Type in line with what people expected from the styling of a Jaguar, which meant that features including a grille at the front were made a core part of the car.

The S-Type remained in production until 2008, at which point it was shown the door in favour of the more modern XF. However, like its namesake, it remains a popular car amongst enthusiasts.