1949 Jaguar MkV DHC – Classified of the Week

When you think of a Jaguar from the 1940s, it’s easy to go straight to the legendary XK120. It was, in many ways, the car that put the company on the world stage. The Americans, for example, loved it. However, when the XK was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show, it wasn’t the only car on the stand. Next to it, and unfairly overlooked, was the MkV Jaguar. And you might think that such a car would fall into the pages of history when launched alongside the XK. The reality, however, is that the MkV outsold the XK at a ratio of around 5000 to the XK’s 2000 per year. The MkV was a significant car for the company. The XK was sporty and exciting, but the Jaguar MkV was ‘bread and butter’ stuff for the company, which was trying to find its feet once again in post-war Britain.

Interestingly, the Jaguar MkV is not the evolution of four other models. At least, not in the traditional sense. Google MkI, II, III and IV Jaguar and you’ll get… nowt. They didn’t exist. Instead, the Jaguar MkV gained it’s name as it was the fifth and final prototype. But it wasn’t a case of putting the prototype into production and calling it a day. The car would go through a number of evolutions, the most notable being the one in which engineers chopped the roof off. That’s what you’re looking at here, a stunning 1949 Jaguar MkV DHC, or drophead coupe to its friends. And look at it. Drink in those lines. This car is… spectacular. Talk about the golden age of the motor car.

As we understand it, this Jaguar MkV, which is located in Belgium, is powered by the 125bhp straight-six overhead valve pushrod engine, generating 125bhp and mated to a four-speed manual transmission. It is of course, left-hand drive. But that’s fine, as it means it’s ready and willing for those glorious passes through the stunning landscapes of Europe. Roof down, of course. Or you can have it half up, should your rear seat passengers want some shade. It’s very versatile.

Restored some twenty years ago, this big cat is still in remarkable condition. In fact, the vendor himself is questioning the very fabric of time, such is the outstanding condition of the car. ” It is hard to believe that this Jaguar was restored 20 years ago, as it is still in amazing condition. The engine has been completely overhauled in 2015, and the car is hardly used since. The nutmeg interior is beautifully finished, and the mohair hood is also immaculate.”  He goes on to explain that even the original tool kit, built into the door of the boot, is present and correct. What an utterly delightful thing.

The current market tells us a story, and that story states we have been all too keen to preserve the XKs over anything else. And that’s fine, but for the MkV, it’s also somewhat sad. As this beautiful machine proves with aplomb, Jaguar had more to offer in 1949 than just the XK. Buyers knew it then, but over time the market forgot, and now the car that outsold the XK to the tune of 3,000 cars a year is now, ironically, the far more rare and far more desirable one. And looking at this particular example, it’s not hard to see why.