1953 Jaguar Mark VII Saloon

The Beaulieu Sale: Collectors' Motor Cars & Automobilia|10 September 2022, 14:00 BST|Beaulieu, National Motor Museum

1953 Jaguar Mark VII Saloon
Registration no. 205 UYS
Chassis no. 716340

• Previously used in Africa
• Largely restored
• Replacement engine

Footnotes

"Grace, Space and Pace were the three words from the advertising world which symbolised the car that was to lay the foundations for Jaguar's continuing prosperity as a car manufacturer, the Mark VII saloon." – Chris Harvey, The Classic Jaguar Saloons.

Work on Jaguar's advanced new saloon had been interrupted by the war, and in 1948 elements of the proposed newcomer made their first appearance in other models: the twin-overhead-camshaft engine in the XK120 sports car, and the chassis design in the interim Mark V saloon. It was not until 1950 that the two were combined in the Mark VII, which would be the first of a family of high-performance luxury saloons that would culminate with Mark IX.

A considerable improvement on what had gone before, the Mark VII's cruciform-braced chassis featured torsion-bar independent front suspension and all-round hydraulic brakes. The 3.4-litre 'six' had already demonstrated its prowess in the XK120 and proved capable of propelling the Mark VII's not inconsiderable bulk past 100mph. Priced at a mere 40% of its Bentley Mark VI rival, but available at first only for export, the Mark VII was a big hit in the USA, that market's demands prompting the introduction of an automatic transmission option in 1953. Two years later the model was revised as the Mark VIIM, with maximum power increased from 160 to 190bhp.

One of slightly more than 10,000 Mark VII saloons produced, this early example was owned in Africa by a Mr Perks, who is understood to have been a Government official, and was used by the local British Embassy as a courtesy car. The Jaguar is largely restored and has a replacement engine. Unfortunately the restoration invoices have been lost, however the vendor advises us that circa £40,000 has been spent so far.

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