1951 Jaguar Mark V Drophead Coupe

Jaguar introduced the Mark V in 1948 at the London Motor Show. The design had a stylish link to the pre-war SS cars with its classic William Lyons curves and its 120-inch wheelbase platform, which Jaguar claimed was the most rigid of any passenger car. The Mark V was also given fully hydraulic four-wheel Girling brakes, torsion-bar suspension, and Burman recirculating-ball steering. The only carryover was the 2.5-liter and 3.5-liter engines, which were inherited from the 1946 Jaguars.

Production of the Mark V continued for three years and was available as both a four-door saloon and two-door drophead coupe. 997 of the 1,005 examples were built with the larger 3.5-liter engine.

Harold Allsop of Willowdale, Ontario purchased the car in 1959. He began a restoration but it was not completed. When he retired at the age of 70, he retrieved it and continued the restoration. The body-off restoration included a complete renewal of the frame, all mechanical components, the body, and electrical components. Allsop fabricated all-new, correct ash wood frames for the doors himself and ordered a proper canvas top material and leather upholstery from England. When the work was nearly completed, he fell ill in 2011 and was unable to continue. His son, Peter, finished the project to its present condition.

The car is finished in Black over a red leather interior with a tan top. It has its original owner's and shop manuals, color dealer brochures, a vintage leaping Jaguar hood ornament, and an originally installed radio, which has been restored or installed. The tool kit inside the boot lid is complete, save for two wrenches.

The engine is an overhead-valve six-cylinder engine producing 125 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2014