1951 Jaguar Mark V Drophead Coupe

William Lyon's SS Motorcar Company was renamed Jaguar in 1945. At the 1948 London Motor Show, Jaguar unveiled its Mark V wearing a pre-War design, and the new and sensational XK120. Early post-War production had essentially been with pre-War designs. The MkV features a cruciform-braced chassis with torsion bar independent suspension in the front and hydraulic brakes at all four corners. Jaguar's existing Standard-based, six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine was continued in both 2.5- and 3.5-liter forms. The bodywork maintained the pre-war tradition, though with minor up-dating in the form of faired-in headlamps, rear-wheel spats, and deeper bumpers. The Mark V was available in drophead coupe or saloon versions and was outfitted with luxuriously appointed interiors that had become a Jaguar hallmark. Production of the Mark V ceased in June of 1951 after slightly fewer than 10,500 had been built. Just 1,005 examples of the Drophead Coupe were built, of which just 28 used the smaller engine. In 1950, Jaguar listed the MKV Drophead for $3,850, which was nearly twice the price of a new Ford convertible.

This example is powered by a 3.5-liter and four-speed synchromesh transmission. It was given a restoration in the early 2000s which included an engine rebuild and the addition of a discreet, custom-built air conditioning unit.

In 2013, this car was offered for sale at Bonhams Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $97,750 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013