Jaguar Mark V

The Jaguar Mark V was the first new model to be introduced by British carmaker Jaguar after the end of the Second World War. William Lyons was not only the company chairman and majority stockholder, he was the chief stylist. He and his team of sheet metal workers known as panel beaters put together five prototype mock-ups before he was satisfied with the result, and so that is how the Mark V got its name, always printed in company brochures as the Roman numeral V, never the Arabic numeral 5. It replaced the pre-war model, which had been continued for three years of post-war production with slight changes, and is now unofficially known as the Mark IV because it came before the Mark V.

The Mark V featured an entirely new chassis designed by Jaguar's chief engineer William Heynes. It was the first Jaguar with independent front suspension and ball joints, first with torsion bars, first with hydraulic brakes, first with the chassis passing over the rear axle for greater comfort, as opposed to an under-slung arrangement, and first to be specifically designed to be produced in Left Hand Drive, primarily for the North American market. It was also the last with the push-rod engines originally designed in the 1930s by the Standard Motor Company, though after the war the engines were built by Jaguar.

The Mark V filled a market need, sold well for three years, particularly in the USA and Australia, and with the profits enabled the company to tool up for production of the XK120 with its fabulous twin cam engine.

Production ended in 1951, by which time it had been superseded by the Mark VII with its XK engine.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Jaguar Mark V Review.

Changes During Production Life
No major changes or minor facelifts were made to the Mark V.

Styles and Major Options
Two body styles were offered, the 4 door Saloon (sedan) and the 2 door Drop Head Coupe (convertible), with Left Hand or Right Hand Drive. Options were the 2.5 liter or 3.5 liter engine, fitted suitcases, a trailer towing hitch bar, a leaping cat mascot for the grille, and various Smith's radios were available for different markets.

Pricing
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Engine and Transmission
Inline 6 cylinder pushrod overhead valve engine of 2.5 or 3.5 liters piston displacement, twin SU carburetters, twin exhaust manifolds feeding into single muffler. Four speed Moss gearbox with synchromesh on the top three gears.

Performance

 * Top speed 90.7 mph
 * 0-60 mph 14.7 seconds
 * Braking 30 mph to zero in 33.5 ft @ .90g with 125 lbs pedal pressure

Test data from "The Motor" 5 Apr 1950

Reliability
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Safety
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Photos
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Colors
Suede Green, Ivory, Birch Grey, Battleship Grey, Lavender Grey, Gunmetal, Black, Pastel Green Metallic, Pastel Blue Metallic, Dove Grey.

Main Competitors
Bentley Mark VI http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentley_Mark_VI  http://www.rrab.com/bmk6.htm

Rolls Royce Silver Dawn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Silver_Dawn  http://www.rrab.com/rsd.htm

Hybrid Models
Two cars were built with the new XK engine, one for testing by the company engineering department, and the other for the personal use of the chairman William Lyons.

Unique Attributes
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Interior
Leather upholstery with cut pile carpeting available in the following colors: Suede Green, Red, Pale Blue, Grey, Biscuit, Tan, Pigskin Grain.

Burled walnut veneer instrument panel and door trimmings.

Convertible top available in the following colors: French Grey, Black, Dark Sand, Gunmetal.

Two glove compartments and a map drawer. Individual front seats. Bench rear seat with side arm rests and central fold down arm rest. Seating and driving position were considered very comfortable by the road testers of the period.

Resale Values
Source: 2010 NADA Guide

Criticisms
Road tests by "The Motor" and "The Autocar" magazines were very favorable, both saying it was a very fine car and good value for the money.

Worldwide
The majority of RHD cars went to Australia, while the majority of LHD cars went to the USA. The UK home market did well enough considering the economics of the times. Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, and continental European countries were also significant markets. Many other countries had a dealer or two.

Design quirks and oddities
A Mark V saloon got its top chopped off and other modifications in order to play the part of a 1930s Mercedes-Benz touring car for the Harrison Ford movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

Awards
A Mark V saloon driven by Cecil Vard took 3rd place in the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally.