1951' Jaguar Mk5

Chassis no. 640107
Engine no. Z4470
Body no. DH1765
Gearbox no. SH9683
Completed: November 29, 1950
Dispatched: December 22, 1950
125 bhp, 3,485 cc overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with transverse wishbones and long torsion bars, solid rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 120 in.
• History known back to 1975
• Mileage believed to be original at 40,012 miles
• The most desirable Mark V variant
• One of only 395 RHD Mark V DHC
Bridging the gap stylistically between the post-war Jaguars and pre-war SS cars, the Mark V was introduced to the public at the 1948 London Motor Show. Boasting a brand-new 120-inch wheelbase chassis, the Mark V benefitted from four fully hydraulic Girling drum brakes, a torsion-bar suspension, and Burman recirculating-ball steering. Needless to say, this gave the Mark V wonderful handling characteristics, and when combined with the existing 2½-liter and 3½-liter engines carried over from the 1946 Jaguars, the Mark V was set to be an excellent car in all regards.
Jaguar offered customers the choice between two different body styles: a stately four-door saloon and an elegant two-door drophead coupe. Both featured the elegance and refinement that Jaguar’s clients had come to expect in their cars and surely did not disappoint the most particular of customers. Today, as when new, the drophead coupe remains the most desirable iteration of the Mark V, especially when equipped with the more potent 3½-liter engine. Over the course of three years of production, 977 such examples were produced; of those, just 395 were right-hand-drive.
This particular 1951 3½-Litre Drophead Coupe was reportedly imported to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1975. The previous owner bought it in 1978 and drove the car just 3,000 miles in his twenty-eight years of ownership. The present owner purchased this Mark V in 2006 and subsequently had it restored. Refinished at that time in its present soft blue with a red interior and a black convertible top, the car looks truly stunning in all regards. The wood trim on the dashboard is highly polished, and this Mark V truly oozes sporting elegance both inside and out.
With wonderful performance and room for four, the Mark V offers an incredible driving experience that only a Jaguar can provide. It can be argued that the Mark V Drophead Coupe was the XK120 for the enthusiast with a family, and this example will surely not disappoint in any regard.

The present owner has completed the following work since 2006 and has maintained this Mark V DHC in very good running condition. The engine starts effortlessly and does not smoke. There are also no signs of any significant leaks.
Cosmetic:
• All corrosion removed from body and new metal installed where required
• New paint in original colour (2007)
• New leather upholstery and carpets (2007)
• Re-veneering all exposed interior woodwork (2007)
• New rear interior light
• All tools to complete the toolkit
• New steering column boot through cowl
• New tires
• New sidelight jewels
Mechanical:
• Ball joints and all front end boots
• Idler arm rebuilt with kit
• New lip seal on steering shaft
• New rear transmission seal
• New dash engine temperature gauge and sensor
• New or re-sleeved brake cylinders and master cylinder
• New clutch
• New pinion seal
• New handbrake cable
• New battery
• New manette control
• New motor mounts
• Numerous other seals and lacings