1955 Jaguar Mk VIIM Saloon

Description

The quintessential Fifties British saloon car, Jaguar's Mark VII was launched at the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show and replaced the decidedly old fashioned Mark V, utilising the sophisticated and powerful 3.4-litre engine from the XK120 in a box-section chassis frame, with vacuum boosted drum brakes and a four-speed manual gearbox (with the option of a Borg-Warner automatic transmission to appeal to the American market). The Mark VII had elegant styling and, although a big car by European standards, was no slouch and proved an able competitor - both on the track in saloon car racing and in long distance rallies. In October 1954 an updated version of the model was announced at the London Motor Show, badged the Mark VIIM, with power lifted to 190 bhp and the optional automatic transmission was now available to domestic customers as well as export markets. Revised bumpers and so-called 'horn grilles' beneath the headlamps distinguished the Mark VIIM from its predecessor. In production for just two years, the Mark VIIM proved popular with buyers and around 10,000 were made all told. Today the Mark VIIM is still a real head turner and an eminently practical classic Jaguar saloon that embodies the slogan "Grace, Pace and Space".