1951 Jaguar Mark V 3.5 Saloon

Description

Launched alongside the dashing XK120 at the 1948 London Motor Show, Jaguar’s latest saloon, designated the Mark V, was a traditional design utilising the overhead-valve in-line six-cylinder inherited from the pre-war SS housed in a new box-section chassis, with independent front suspension using a torsion bar and double wishbones. Another big advance was the adoption of Girling hydraulic brakes and the car was sold in both 2.5-litre and 3.5-litre versions. The Mark V was marginally restyled from the previous model, with a more raked windscreen, thinner pillars and rear spats and was offered in both saloon and drophead guises. There was still plenty of chrome, particularly around the grille and the leaping cat mascot proved a popular option with buyers looking to dress up the appearance of their new Jaguars. The standard wheel was a 16-inch steel disc but wires are often fitted to improve the appearance. The Motor magazine recorded a time of 20.4 seconds for 0-60 mph and a top speed of just over 90 mph, making the car an impressive performer for the day. A total of 7,814 Mark V Saloons were built between 1948 and 1951 with the 3.5-litre engine and relatively few of these survive today. The Mark V Jaguars are ideal club cars, with plenty of room for friends and family and also popular as classic wedding vehicles.