Lot details
Registration No: XOW 798
Chassis No: 611549
Mot Expiry: May 2012

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. Initial flagship of what was retrospectively known as the MKIV range, the Jaguar 3.5 Litre Saloon sat atop a box-section chassis equipped with 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, its 3485cc OHV straight-six engine was allied to four-speed manual transmission and promised 90mph plus performance. Utilising the same all-steel body construction as its late 1930s SS Jaguar forebear, the newcomer appeared even sleeker thanks to a revised hypoid bevel back axle that allowed the floor to be lowered by two inches. Nicknamed the `Wardour Street Bentley' on account of its popularity with the glamorous if occasionally decadent Soho-set, the MKIV 3.5 Litre Saloon remained in production until February 1949 by which time some 3,605 right-hand drive cars had been completed.

This particular example - chassis 611549 - was supplied new to South Africa. Resident in Cape Town for a while - as evidenced by the 'Robb Motors' plaque still affixed to its dashboard - the 3.5 litre saloon is understood to have had just two registered UK keepers since being repatriated during 1959. Found to be remarkably well preserved despite a period of barn storage when it entered the previous family ownership in 1984, the Jaguar was nonetheless stripped pending an extensive restoration which would take some twenty years to complete. A garage proprietor by profession, the last owner's father undertook much of the work himself. Though invoices on file show that the car was given a professional respray in its original colour by Bodyshop UK of Weston Coyney and also benefited from the ministrations of marque specialists J.A. Garages Ltd of Leek, Staffordshire and Davenport Cars Ltd of Tetworth, Bedfordshire. As well as supplying numerous small parts, the latter was responsible for 'debugging' the car and overhauling its original engine during late 2003.

Pleasingly retaining what appears to be its original green leather upholstery (complemented by a new headlining, replacement carpets and refinished wood veneers), 'XOW 789' is described by the vendor as being in "very good" condition cosmetically, while he rates the engine as "excellent". Believed but not warranted to have covered some 57,000 miles from new, the handsome sports saloon boasts such niceties as a leaping Jaguar mascot, stainless steel exhaust, boot-mounted tool kit (near complete), opening windscreen, sunroof and auxiliary driving lamps. Riding on painted wire wheels, this appealing 'Big Cat' is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until June 1st 2012 and history file. The latter comprises the following: Jaguar Service Manual for All Models 1946-1948 (reprint), several old tax discs, assorted J.A.Garages Ltd invoices (copies and originals), Instruction Book for the Jaguar 2½ Litre and 3½ Litre Models 1946 (original), various MOT certificates dating back to 2003, several Davenport Cars Ltd invoices, sundry parts diagrams, and a Bodyshop UK invoice etc.