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.

Underneath 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.

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, here with a full burl and maroon leather interior, which complements the Battleship Grey exterior. The drophead model was added to the lineup in 1949, and almost all 3.5-liter cars in either saloon or convertible bodies were sold to the U.S.A., although the total 3.5-liter drophead production was under 1,000 units.

Left-hand drive chassis 674145 was purchased in Paris, reportedly by American diplomat David Scott, who was in France working on the Marshall Plan. Original documents with the car include correspondence with Jaguar’s Sir William Lyons himself, beginning an excellent trail of documentation leading to the present day. The original owner eventually donated it to a museum, where it remained for many years, but during that time, its condition suffered; fortunately, the third and present owner commissioned a complete restoration upon acquisition. It was subsequently further refreshed in the spring of 2013. A complete, desirable tool kit is present.

Capable of cruising beyond highway speeds and with flat-floor room for four, a Mark V Drophead captures all the elegance and comfort that a post-war Jaguar could offer.