Lot details
Registration No: LFO 431
Chassis No: 617001
Mot Expiry: Exempt

Following an emergency wartime board meeting in March 1945, William Lyons' SS Jaguar concern jettisoned its prefix initials and their unwanted Nazi connotations. When peace came some six months later, the newly renamed Jaguar Cars - like most British motor manufacturers - felt constrained by the government's `export or die' drive to put various of its pre-September 1939 models back into production (albeit with some minor improvements). Luckily for the Coventry firm, this entailed trying to sell a line-up of 1.5 litre four-cylinder and 2.5 / 3.5 litre six-cylinder cars which still enjoyed an enviable reputation for strong performance, good road manners and well appointed interiors. Top of what was retrospectively known as the MKIV range, the decidedly voluptuous 3.5 Litre Drophead Coupe boasted an ingenious three-position hood that gave occupants the choice of open, closed or coupe de ville motoring. A full five-seater, its underslung box-section chassis incorporated all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension, lever-arm dampers, Burman worm-and-nut steering and Girling mechanical drum brakes. Credited with developing some 125bhp and 184lbft, the flagship model's 3485cc OHV straight-six engine was allied to four-speed manual transmission and promised 95mph plus performance. Utilising the same all-steel body construction as its late 1930s SS Jaguar forebear, the newcomer appeared even more svelte thanks to a revised hypoid bevel back axle that allowed the floor to be lowered by two inches. Only spanning a seven-month period (February - September 1948), total right-hand drive MKIV 3.5 Litre Drophead Coupe production is thought to have amounted to just 184 cars - making it among the rarest of all Jaguar's post-WW2 production models.

An historic car, chassis 617001 has the distinction of being the very first right-hand drive MKIV 3.5 Litre Drophead Coupe built. Finished in Black with Red leather upholstery, it was completed on 17th February 1948 and despatched to the Hoffman Motor Car Co of Park Avenue, New York early the following month. A hugely influential importer of European sports and luxury cars, Max Hoffman would later convince Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche to produce the 300SL `Gullwing', 507 and 356 Speedster respectively. An unabashed aesthete who was doubtless taken with the Jaguar's wonderfully elegant styling, he seems to have had no qualms about taking delivery of a right-hand drive car in a left-hand drive market. Although an accompanying service manual suggests that it belonged to Chas A. Mitchell of Washington DC by August 28th 1949, little else is known about the Drophead Coupe's sojourn in America. Still retaining its original engine and coachwork when repatriated by restorer A.B. Price during 1995, the MKIV was subsequently fettled and MOT tested before being sold to William King of Milton Keynes.

An active Jaguar Drivers' Club member, Mr King commissioned marque specialist Davenport Cars to bring chassis 617001 up to concours standard. Awarded the Best SS Trophy at the 1997 and 1998 JDC National Day, the five-seater was also chosen as the car that the Chairman of Jaguar would `most like to take home' after completing the JDC Rally. Liveried in Sage Green with Tan leather upholstery, the MKIV was sold by Mr King to Tony Hansford of King's Lynn during 2001. Acquired from the latter by the vendor some four years later, the Jaguar was entrusted to Davenport Cars again in 2006 with instructions that it be repainted and retrimmed in line with its original build specification. As well as extensive bodywork repairs, the refurbishment saw attention paid to the rear axle, brakes, wiring and instrumentation etc. While more recent work has included the installation of both a five-speed manual gearbox to improve high speed cruising on rallies / tours (winter 2008 / spring 2009) and a more powerful but correct-type 3.5 Litre engine complete with performance camshaft and steel conrods etc (winter 2010 / spring 2011). However, the original factory-fitted engine and a four-speed manual gearbox have been kept should a later custodian wish to instate them. A unique part of Jaguar's illustrious heritage, chassis 617001 would make a fine addition to any collection and is offered for sale with JDHT Certificate, period literature (instruction book, service manual, spare parts catalogue), numerous Davenport Cars invoices, sundry old MOTs, copy brochure and DVLA ownership trace etc.