1947 Jaguar Mk IV

Our car’s chassis number of 412847 reveals it to be number 940 of 2,017 right hand drive 1 ½ Litre cars built in 1947. A full 77 years later the Jaguar remains a matching numbers example of the breed. The earliest exploits of the 1 ½ Litre are now lost in the mists of time with those lifting in 1974 when the Jaguar was acquired by the current owner’s father who was the tender age of just 21.

Current owner Damien has fond memories of the family’s proud ownership since the mid 1970’s. He recalls “it’s been a source of much joy and featured as the wedding car at several family weddings as well as the centre of many fun family days out.”

The stately Jaguar has been, consequently, well loved and cared for with its every need attended to in order to keep it in the fine order it presents in today. This has included a full engine rebuild, radiator re-core and brake overhaul in 2019. Today Damien reports that “it has good oil pressure, probably a new clutch and a great engine.”

To say there is something very “Neville Chamberlain” about the MKIV is, perhaps, unsurprising given that it is an early 1930’s design. This feeling is emphasised by our car’s stove black livery, helping to conjure up mental images of a dimly lit and smoggy Downing Street long before the protective gates arrived.

In today’s terms that makes for elegance, star quality and road presence by the ministerial red boxful. The front end of the car is an obvious highlight being a veritable sea of bright chrome. The enormous, conical headlamps are mirrored by an only slightly smaller pair of driving lights. The tall radiator shell and slats are complex in design and execution but look perfectly resolved. A deeply chromed, cart-spring type bumper completes the impressive look.

In side profile the deep and curvaceous front wings morph into tapering running boards which culminate in a pair of vestigial rear wings. The flanks are deep with the glazed areas of the cabin appearing short by comparison in true 1930’s gangster car style. The cross-spoked wire wheels are silver painted and affixed with a set of chromed, twin-eared centre spinners.

The rear of the Jaguar is dominated by a veritable “ski-slope” of a boot lid and rear valance. The rear window features the proportions of a slightly curved letterbox complete with obligatory “my other car’s an F-Type” window sticker.

The condition seems to belie the car’s 77-year history with no major imperfections noted or reported. In fact, owner Damien ventures that “the bodywork is in excellent condition.”

If you wanted to replicate the perfectly charming age-related patina of this Jaguar’s well-stuffed seats it would, likely, prove impossible. It can only effectively be achieved by taking high quality cow hides and subjecting them to over seven decades of ingress, egress and fidgety, wriggling, “are we there yet,” bottoms. 

The front chairs are individual items with deep squabs and gently curving seat backs. The rear cabin is furnished with a full width bench with sculpted armrests at its outer ends. What appears to be a piped patch to the rear squab only adds to the effect and is like an upholstery equivalent of the Japanese art of Kintsugi.

The carpets present in a complimentary brown hue and are edge bound for added longevity. They appear to be in excellent shape and may, perhaps, be later items. The light headlining appears taught and free from rips or stains. The door cards are leather trimmed, replete with chrome fittings and capped with well varnished veneer. The dashboard fascia is finished in a similar, gloss varnished veneer and populated with a set of five white on black Smiths gauges. The four-spoke Bakelite and steel steering wheel features an oversized boss fitted with a trio of chromed adjustment levers.

The boot is practically shaped and surprisingly commodious. The highlight here, however, has to be the boot lid mounted toolbox (aka “chest”)! As if to put later Bavarian equivalents to shame, this full width and depth version opens to reveal a baize and foam lined Aladdin’s cave of tool related bliss. Surely a shoo-in for “toolbox of the month…..if not year!”

Despite the Jaguar 1 ½ Litre offering a mere four-cylinder 1,776cc powerplant from the existing Standard stable, Practical Motorist would claim that "as is often the case the smallest engined is the sweetest running car" with a "big car cruising gait in the sixties." Praise indeed.

That is reportedly especially true of this example thanks, in part, to some significant and high-value mechanical restorative work in 2019. This work was extensive but included an engine rebuild, a refurbished cooling system and an overhauled and recommissioned braking system. The result today is a sweetly running example with “good oil pressure and a great engine.”

That great engine can be revealed by opening either, or both, sides of the centrally hinged and impressively long bonnet. This shows that approximately half of that impressive length is dedicated to the 1,776cc engine and the other half to the front passengers’ footwells. The condition under here appears commensurate with the rest of the car and the original data plates are present and correct.

There is plenty of supporting paperwork included with this Jaguar 1 ½ Litre. This includes the V5 registration document in the name of the current owner. The Jaguar is classified as an Historic Vehicle so is MoT exempt and zero rated for VED in the UK. Despite this the car was last MoT’d in August 2022 achieving an advisory free pass.

The remainder of the archive contains numerous instructive documents and publications including an original “instruction book” and a number of invoices for work undertaken and parts procured.

Despite the “arrested development” of the MKIV Jaguars during the war, it proved no impediment to the success of the range. All car manufacturers were in the same position, of course, and the pre-war SS cars were better resolved than much of the competition anyway. The MKIV is a milestone car, too, being the first model to wear the Jaguar badge as an identifier of the marque rather than just the model. 

There is not too much that bodes better for the quality of a car than 50 years of continuous family ownership. It speaks volumes about both the family and the car and should add reassurance beyond measure. In this case, especially, the reasons are obvious. This is a 77-year-old car that exudes charm, quality and longevity from every panel and pleat of leather. A rarely seen opportunity, then, to acquire not just a car but a much loved, well cared for family friend.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the seller in Punnetts Town. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.