1948 Jaguar MkIV 3.5-Litre Saloon

Description

Current owner 14 years; sympathetically restored in 2010 and lightly used since; only 3,000 miles on fully rebuilt engine; driven 50 miles to the sale; a most attractive example of this rare sports saloon at a very tempting guide price...   

By the time William Lyons resumed car production after WW2, the old SS name had acquired some unfortunate connotations so the new cars were marketed as the Jaguar 1 ½, 2 ½ and 3 ½-Litre with the MkIV name being applied in retrospect to distinguish this model from the succeeding MkV.

Available as a saloon or a drophead coupe, the 3 ½-Litre was by far the most sporting of the trio with over 100mph on tap from its 125bhp straight-six OHV engine – extraordinary performance from an unblown sports car of that era. Like the SS 100, the 3 ½-Litre was an extremely exclusive machine and only 3,162 were made before it was replaced by the MkV in 1948.

As the Heritage Certificate confirms, this 3 ½-Litre Saloon was built in February 1948 and was originally Battleship Grey with a black leather interior. It was supplied new via Tom Byatt of Fenton, Staffs, to first owner JB Joyce on 8^th March 1948. The car’s subsequent history has been lost in the mists of time but for many years it was owned by a gentleman in Woolacombe who passed away in c.2008, the car subsequently appearing on eBay which is where our vendor bought it in January 2009.

At this point the car had been partially stripped for a restoration which never took place but the eBay listing, which incorrectly called it a 2.5-Litre, described it as being ‘truly original’ with just one previous owner from new.

Between 2009 and 2010 our vendor sympathetically restored the car, much of the work being recorded in invoices and a few photos on file. The bodywork was in pretty good shape and only required localised repairs before being repainted in its current two-tone Ford Meadow Green.

All the brightwork was replated and the 18” wire wheels were refurbished and fitted with new Excelsior tyres (the spare wheel is a new item supplied by MWS). The interior gained new carpets and headlining, the original woodwork and leather upholstery being refurbished as required.  

The engine was fully rebuilt by Billcar Engineering of Shrewsbury with new pistons, liners, bearings, timing chain, reground crank etc. It also received steel con rods from an XK 4.2 and the cylinder head was refaced and fitted with new valves. The carbs were rebuilt and a cold start switch has also been fitted to the right of the steering wheel alongside an additional electronic temperature gauge from a Jaguar MkX.   

Since the restoration was completed the car has been kept garaged and used lightly in fine weather only, covering around 3,000 miles on the rebuilt engine, the odometer currently showing 71,699 miles. Driven some 50 miles to the sale, the vendor reports that it goes well with everything working as it should although he notes there is some play in the steering box.

An original workshop manual is included, along with agreed value insurance certificates for £35,000 in 2015 and 2016. There is also a well-stocked tool tray and a spare cabin heater which is yet to be fitted but has been tested and found to be in working order. The icing on the cake is the original Stoke-issue registration number, LVT 847, which is transferable and has a value of its own.

As you can see in the photos, the car now looks most attractive with a good paint finish and a nicely mellowed interior. Starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it around on site, with good 40psi oil pressure, this rare and rejuvenated Jaguar is on offer here at a very modest guide price and doubtless has another 70+ years of useful life ahead of it.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com