1948 Jaguar Mark IV 3.5-Liter Drophead Coupe Coachwork by Carrosserie Langenthal

When peace came in 1945, the newly renamed Jaguar Cars, like the majority of Britain's motor manufacturers, recommenced civilian production with a range of pre-war designs, albeit with some minor improvements. Essentially stopgap models pending the arrival of an entirely new generation of Jaguars, these comprised the compact 1.5-Liter and the larger 2.5/3.5-Liter model, retrospectively known after 1948 as the 'Mark IV', which still enjoyed an enviable reputation for strong performance, good road manners, and well-appointed interiors.

Built on a generous 120" (3,048mm) wheelbase, the Mark IV retained a separate chassis featuring beam front axle and live rear axle suspension on semi-elliptic springs, with lever-arm dampers, Burman worm-and-nut steering, and Girling mechanical brakes. The stylish all-steel factory coachwork was available in saloon or drophead coupe forms and featured the kind of luxurious and well-appointed interior that would become a Jaguar hallmark. Used by SS Cars since 1934, the engine was Standard's rugged seven-bearing six, which in Jaguar specification was fitted with a Weslake overhead-valve cylinder head and coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox - in 3.5-liter form capable of propelling the sturdy Mark IV to over 95mph (153km/h).

While the vast majority of customers were more than satisfied with the factory's elegant bodies, those requiring bespoke coachwork could still order their Jaguar in rolling chassis form for bodying by an independent coachbuilder, as was the case with this example. In total, Jaguar supplied only 12 3.5-Liter Mark IVs in rolling chassis form: ten to Switzerland and two to Belgium.

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