Introduced in 1948 at the London Motor Show, alongside the new XK120, Jaguar’s Mark V was quickly cast into the shadow by that startling new roadster. But while the Mark V retained a stylistic link to the beloved pre-war SS cars, it was also nearly all new. The only carryover was the famed 2.5- and 3.5-liter engine series inherited from the 1946 Jaguars.

Beneath the coachwork was a new 120-inch wheelbase chassis, which Jaguar claimed was the most rigid of any passenger car, certainly a factor in the excellent driving characteristics of the drophead. As this was the car on which they expected the future of the company to depend, they also debuted many technological firsts. Fully hydraulic four-wheel Girling brakes were a new feature, and they worked with a newly developed 16-inch, 6.7-section Dunlop tire in both road holding and stopping. This new wheel and tire combination also gave the car a lower and more modern look than the previous cars’ 18-inch wheels. The suspension, however, was the biggest drawing point. The company’s William Heynes had championed their torsion bar system, related to Citröen’s, through a decade of research and testing. Equipped with double wishbones and a single torsion bar in front, that setup’s bump-smoothing characteristics yield what one thinks of as the traditional Jaguar balance of comfort and feel. The Burman recirculating-ball steering is responsible for excellent steering characteristics.

Underneath the hood of this car is a straight-six engine with the SS exhaust system. It is fitted with a four-speed manual transmission, solid chassis, four-wheel hydraulic brakes and a radio. The black exterior is elegantly presented with fender skirts that carry the flowing body lines and Coker radial wide whitewall tires. The three position tan top is complimented with exquisite red leather bucket seats, which blend well with exquisite wood trim elements. The trunk is equally well-presented and has a toolkit recessed in the back side of the decklid. Lavish brochures highlighted the elegance of this large car, which clearly shows a classic William Lyons influence. The accommodations are in the purest Jaguar tradition.