The Jaguar name was first used in 1936 on a handsome sports saloon built by SS Cars, Ltd., in Coventry, England. This car had a 2,663-cc overhead valve version of a Standard Motor Company engine, somewhat redesigned by Harry Weslake and William Heynes. Good for 90 mph, it was a relative bargain at £385 (then about $1,900). Greater fame, however, accrued to the short-chassis SS 100 Jaguar two-seater.

After World War II, the company eschewed the SS connotation and was renamed Jaguar Cars, Ltd. The classically styled saloons and dropheads continued in production, with 1.5-, 2.5-, and 3.5-liter engines. The 1.5-liter was an overhead valve four, the others sixes. They were sold as Jaguar 1½-Litre, 2½-Litre, and 3½-Litre models, respectively. After the introduction of the updated and mildly reengineered Mark V at the 1948 London Motor Show, the earlier cars retroactively became commonly known as "Mark IV" models.

According to its Jaguar Heritage Trust production record certificate, this left-hand-drive 3½-Litre Drophead Coupe was completed on 3 May 1948 and shipped on 28 May to S.H. Lynch & Co., the distributor in Texas. Its first owner and early history in the U.S. have not been recorded. Restored to concours condition, this 3½-Litre Drophead Coupe is nicely presented in Garnet Red with matching leather interior. The three-position top is done in beige canvas. Although now two decades old, the three-year nut-and-bolt restoration has been well maintained and has produced a long legacy of awards. These include 1st place honors at such concours as Palo Alto, Santa Rosa, Hillsborough, and Silverado. It has scored Jaguar Club of North America honors from 1992 and as recently as 2017. Other recent recognition includes People's Choice at the 2017 International Jaguar Festival and a Presidential Award at Hilton Head in 2016.

Complete with the factory tool kit in the drop-down boot lid, the owner's manual, and Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate, it represents the last vestige of truly classic Jaguar styling. It is undoubtedly one of the best Mark IVs available today - a rare model in rare condition.