The 1951 Jaguar MK5 Drop Head Coupe was a quintessential British classic. This luxurious automobile boasted a sleek design and exquisite craftsmanship. With a potent 3.5-liter inline-six engine, it offered both elegance and performance. Its convertible top added allure, making it a timeless icon synonymous with vintage automotive grace and style.
Julien's Perspective
SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS MODEL
When someone else has taken on the not only burden of time but also the financial cost of restoration, I find it usually makes a compelling case to dig a little further and see the result of their labours.
Certainly this Jaguar is a good case in point, as its nut & bolt restoration albeit some years ago, still enables it to remain substantially elevated above the majority on offer today.
Offering the larger of the two engines, this 3.5 litre drophead is in simply superb condition and we understand has covered just 14,000 miles since it was restored.
The car is finished in flawless Old English White and was re-trimmed with wonderfully vibrant red hide, which covers all seating surfaces, plus then all original wood was replaced with beautifully refinished with figured burr walnut to the dash board and door tops. There's tons of lovely details around the car, but perhaps the most striking is the superb chrome work, a visual treat as there's a great deal of it. A further lovely touch and so often over looked, is the inclusion of a full tool kit, found in its appointed place neatly in folded into the boot lid.
The car drives as well as it looks with the powerful 3.5 litre six cylinder engine affording ample performance. A big plus here is the addition of an 'overdrive' on top, this evidently engages a further gear which certainly makes for much more relaxed touring. The engine bay needless to say is correctly highly detailed and immaculate like the rest of the car.
These are certainly very versatile cars which cope admirably with modern traffic, offering great performance and more than spacious seating for four people. Being a open top, the black mohair roof is easily lowered for alfresco summer motoring and raised again when the weather is less clement, or just the front portion may be rolled back allowing for Sedanca style motoring.
An restored open top Bentley from the same era would be well north of this Jaguar price-wise, thus making it a sensible and credible alternative.
The current keeper is a seasoned old school owner who likes to use his cars, so all are 'on point', that said, he's sadly lost garage space and doesn't condone the idea of separate storage, as sensible usage quickly slips away, hence the decision to allow us to help with its sale.
